HC Deb 11 March 1953 vol 512 cc1274-5
39. Sir E. Keeling

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the result of the inquiries into the possibility of confiscating the propaganda sent by post from China to this country addressed to the next-of-kin of British prisoners of war in Communist hands, accusing the soldiers of the United Nations of the murder, torture and rape of defenceless civilians.

Mr. Gammans

Detestable as this exploitation of human misery is, I am advised that these postal packets do not contravene Post Office Regulations, and I have, therefore, no power to interfere with their passage through the post.

Sir E. Keeling

Is my hon. Friend aware that the delivery by the Post Office of this Communist propaganda offends, disgusts and distresses the recipients, who are, in most cases, parents of soldiers captured when doing their duty?

Mr. Gammans

I entirely agree with what my hon. Friend said, and I wish there were some means whereby they would not distress the people who now receive them.

Mr. Noel-Baker

This is a very important question. Will the hon. Gentleman look at it again and consider it with the Foreign Office, and see whether the matter can be raised with the Universal Postal Union? There must be some machinery for dealing with this matter.

Mr. Gammans

The question has already been raised with the Foreign Office, but so far as the Post Office is concerned I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that we have considered this matter very carefully. We have no power whatever to do what my hon. Friend suggests.

Mr. Noel-Baker

May I press the hon. Gentleman? Have the Government considered with the Universal Postal Union what can be done? The Universal Postal Union is one of the most efficient of all international organisations, and this problem surely can be taken up with it.

Mr. Gammans

I will certainly have another look at the point raised, but the difficulty is that the Post Office have no idea what is in a letter unless we open it, and we have no power to open letters of that sort.

Mr. Nicholson

Is it not a fact that the Post Office have power to open any letter? Is it not a reasonable presumption that any correspondence from that source is likely to contain some propaganda?

Mr. Gammans

No, I do not think that is a fair presumption at all. It would mean opening all letters that came from any part of China.

Mr. W. R. Williams

Does the hon. Gentleman recall that the House has always been strongly opposed to the Post Office being made an instrument of censorship for any purpose whatever, and will he hold to his original reply that censorship is no purpose of the Post Office? Is he aware that many of us do not want to have Littlewood's coupons sent to us, but would not put forward the argument that the Post Office has to do anything about it on our behalf.