HC Deb 20 July 1943 vol 391 cc685-6
43. Mr. David Adams

asked the Postmaster-General what arrangements are now made for mails between Ethiopia, this country and the rest of the world, having regard to the fact that the British Government controls the mail service to and from that country; and whether air-graph and parcel post to and from Ethiopia have now been established?

The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. Grimston)

The British Government exercise no control over the mail services within or from Ethiopia: the arrangements for the despatch of mails from Ethiopia to other countries are made by the Ethiopian Government. Air and surface mails are exchanged between the United Kingdom and Ethiopia, and any correspondence sent in the mails from Ethiopia to the United Kingdom for onward transmission to other countries or received in the United Kingdom from other countries for transmission to Ethiopia would be forwarded in the British mails. The postal service is at present limited to letters, postcards, printed papers and commercial papers. A parcel post service will be established as soon as the Ethiopian Post Office can complete the necessary arrangements. My right hon. and gallant Friend is also in communication with the Ethiopian Postal Administration regarding the possibility of extending the air-graph service to that country.