§ 55. Sir J. Mellorasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of Argentine pretensions to sovereignty in the Falkland Islands, documents and postage stamps expressing, such pretensions will be treated as invalid by the authorities in the islands.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Rees-Williams)As regards the validity of Argentine postage stamps I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on Wednesday, 6th April, by my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General. It is not clear to what documents the hon. Member is referring and if he will specify the types of documents which he has in mind I will make further inquiries.
§ Sir J. MellorSo far as postage stamps are concerned, is it not intolerable that British sovereignty should thus be challenged on British soil, and if the International Convention is the difficulty surely the Government should ask for the Convention to be amended.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsI understand that my right hon. Friend has protested to the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union, but if the policy suggested by the hon. Member was pursued it would mean that recipients of letters in the Falkland Islands would be penalised.