841.711/2752: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State

1971. Following is text of circular Foreign Office note dated October 6, regarding postal censorship:

“His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom find it necessary, owing to the state of war existing between this country and Germany, to examine certain seaborne mails on ships calling at, or diverted to, British ports in order to ascertain that they do not contain articles of contraband or obnoxious documents.

A. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom desire to conduct this operation with as little inconvenience as possible to foreign nations. If it proves impracticable to send the mails on by the same vessel, they will be conveyed after examination to the port from which they can be most conveniently re-shipped. His Majesty’s Government [Page 267] are prepared, as an act of grace, to grant exemption from examination to

(a)
Letters and postal packets which are addressed to or bear an external indication that they emanate from, (a) State Department, [b?] Embassy or Legation of any power not at war with His Majesty.
(b)
Official diplomatic and consular bags.”

Kennedy