§ Mr. NIELDasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the infliction of a fine of £50 by the Croydon justices upon a person convicted of attempting to send a letter to the United States of America otherwise than through the post; whether he can distinguish that case from others of a like nature, including that of Mr. Bertrand Russell, which have been brought to his notice; and, if not, why a prosecution has not been launched against these persons so as to vindicate the equality of all before the law?
§ Sir G. CAVEMy attention has not been called to the Croydon case. As regards Mr. Russell, I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer I gave on the 12th February last to the hon. and learned Member for York. He may rest assured that a prosecution will be instituted in any such case in which the necessary evidence is available.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Postmaster-General if he will specify the Statute, if any, under which letters transmitted from a foreign country to this are stopped in 442W the Post Office, their enclosures withheld, and no communication made to either the addressor or addressee; and whether the money sent from Portugal for a memorial to Thomas J. Clarke, an Irish prisoner of war executed last May, and so stopped in the Post Office, will be given to the owner for that purpose?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONLetters are submitted by the Post Office to the military censors under a Warrant of the Home Secretary. The Post Office Act, 1908, provides that no penalty shall be incurred by an officer of the General Post Office for obedience to such a Warrant. There are not sufficient details to enable inquiry to be made into the matter referred to in the last part of the question. The name and address of the sender and addressee of the packet and the date of posting, and, if the packet was registered, the registered number are necessary, and should, in the first place, be addressed to the General Post Office.