§ 3. Mr. WELLOCKasked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is aware that the following books, Socialism and 1313 the Living Wage and The Politics of Oil, sent to India by a British bookseller, have been confiscated; and on what grounds such action was taken?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe first of the books referred to is published by the Communist Party of Great Britain, and copies of it have been intercepted on the strength of a notification, issued under Section 19 of the Sea Customs Act, which prohibits the importation of Communist literature. As regards the second book, I regret that I have no information.
§ Mr. WELLOCKIs the Noble Lord aware that I am referring to a book published at the request of the Labour Research Department, which is one of the finest organisations of its kind in the country; and does he know that it is a text book dealing with studies about labour and capital?
§ Mr. HANNONIs it the Labour Research Department attached to the Labour party?
§ Mr. WELLOCKIt is apart from politics.
§ Earl WINTERTONIf the hon. Member is referring to the second book mentioned in the question, I have already said that I have no information on the subject, but I will do my best to obtain information.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAOn what principle should any book published by the Communist party be prevented from getting into India? Are the Government of India afraid of the truth being told to the people of India?