§ Mr. W. BROWNasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in the British mandated territory of Iraq instructions have been issued secretly to the postal authorities for any communication coming from the League against Imperialism to any destination in the Middle East to be destroyed; whether, seeing that protest has been lodged by the Arab Nationalist party with the Government of Iraq against this practice, he will say whether the instructions were issued with the knowledge and approval of His Majesty's Government in Great Britain; whether they are still in force; and whether any prohibition against the publication of Reports prepared by the League against Imperialism exists in any other British mandated territory or protectorate and, if so, whether he will name them?
§ Dr. SHIELSI have no knowledge of the existence in Iraq of any secret instructions of the nature referred to in the 1423W question. The introduction into Iraq of the quarterly organ of the League against Imperialism was prohibited by a public notice issued by the Director-General of Posts and Telegraphs in Iraq in virtue of legislation enacted in 1924. So far as I am aware, His Majesty's Government were not consulted before this step was taken, and, in any case, this is not a matter in regard to which His Majesty's Government could properly interfere with the discretion of the Iraq Government. As regards the last part of the question, I am not aware that the Government of any other British mandated territory or protectorate has prohibited the publication of such Reports, but such prohibition would not necessarily be reported to my Noble Friend.