§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that for the third time this year up to 20th January the Siberian mails to China have been tampered with; and whether he is making any representations to the appropriate authorities with respect to this practice?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHSeveral reports have been received from Shanghai of the tampering with mails sent out to China by the Siberian route. The losses, which do not appear to have been serious, all took place during the period when traffic over the Chinese Eastern Railway was suspended and the mails had to be sent via Vladivostock and Japan. All possible steps are being taken to deal with the matter, and now that the regular route has been reopened, I hope that these irregularities will cease. I may add that, prior to the temporary diversion, the traffic by the Siberian route was remarkably free from losses.