§ 52. Sir John Mellorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will protest to the Argentine Government that their refusal to accept stamps bearing the words Falkland Islands as prepayment of postage is a breach of the Universal Postal Convention; and if he will further protest against the issue by that Government of postage stamps designed with maps to emphasise Argentine pretensions to the Falkland Islands and Dependencies.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesIn a Note of 3rd January, 1947, His Majesty's Ambassador at Buenos Aires once more rejected Argentina's claim to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, on which is based their action in surcharging correspondence bearing stamps of the Falkland Islands. In the same Note it was also stated that they regarded such action as a breach of the Universal Postal Convention. Subsequently, the Postmaster-General registered a protest with the Director of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union.
As regards the second part of the Question, there is no international convention which forbids the issue of stamps designed to promote territorial claims and, while His Majesty's Government deplore this practice, we do not wish to exaggerate its importance by making a diplomatic protest.
§ Sir J. MellorWould it not be better for the British Government to retaliate for these insolent pretensions?
§ Mr. DaviesNo, Sir, I do not think that for such petty gestures as have been made in this case retaliation is called for.