HC Deb 09 December 1952 vol 509 cc32-3W
103. Mr. Driberg

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the seizure by the United States postal authorities of a number of parcels of books and periodicals exported for sale in the United States of America by a British publisher, on the ground that the persons to whom they were addressed were not registered as agents of foreign principals, and that the parcels seized contained, besides Soviet and other Communist publications, such books as "Edwardian Heritage" and "Street Life in Medieval England"; and if he will make appropriate representations in order to prevent such restraint of trade

Mr. Mackeson

I am aware of a case of this kind. As regards the seizure of the political material contained in the parcels, this is a domestic matter for the United States Government. As to the non-political material, I understand that the difficulty arose because this material was included in a consignment of political material and was, therefore, seized by the authorities in accordance with Article 49 of the Universal Postal Union Convention.