§ Sir W. Darlingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken by the Central Office of Information, or other department, to increase the number of newspapers sent 136W from the United Kingdom to the U.S.S.R.; and what practical steps are being taken to enable British citizens personally to exchange views with Soviet citizens.
§ Mr. MayhewAs was explained to the hon. Member in the reply to his Question of 29th July last, no British newspapers are sent to Russia through British official channels for distribution to the Soviet public; and since the Soviet Government some time ago requested our Embassy to cease the free distribution of British periodicals, and even during the war did not agree to their sale, no purpose would be served by starting a supply.
With regard to the second part of the Question, so far as His Majesty's Government are concerned, British citizens are at perfect liberty to exchange views with Soviet citizens. Any restrictions there may be on such communications come wholly from the Russian side; and there would not seem to be any practical steps by which His Majesty's Government could reduce them