Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Postmaster General whether the relatives of soldiers serving in Iraq and Iran are able to make use of the airgraph system of letters; and whether the cheap-rate system of telegraphing, available to soldiers in the Mid-East Army, are now extended to such soldiers in the two countries mentioned?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe airgraph service is available for despatch of messages to soldiers serving in Iraq. I am already making inquiry regarding Persia and I will write to my hon. Friend shortly. I regret that the special service, whereby telegrams may be sent at reduced rates to soldiers serving with the Middle East Force and in the British Empire generally, is not at present available for the despatch of telegrams addressed to places in Iraq or Persia. So far as Iraq is concerned, H.M. Ambassador at Baghdad has made representations on the subject to the Iraqi Government and it is hoped that a favourable decision will be reached shortly. The question of extending the service to Persia presents considerable difficulties and it may take some time to overcome these, although everything possible is being done.