Postmaster General at Ottawa on this subject, in view of the probability of a resumption of the despatch via Vancouver of some of the American mails to the Far East.
War Office,
12th June,
1917.
COPY.
298 64
(REG 13 JUN 7-
TREC:
The United States authorities, as at present advised consider it desirable that the censorship of mails be- tween the United States and Europe should continue to be carried out in Europe rather than in the United States. This is obviously desirable also in the general interests of the Allies and no change will therefore be made, for the present at any rate, in regard to the mails examined by the British Censors.
It is hoped that the United States Government will consent to send to London a certain number of officers to assist us in adjusting our regulations to suit the altered state of affairs in America. No comprehensive revision of procedure will be possible until the various questions have been thoroughly discussed with the Unite States authorities, but meanwhile, in censoring mails and from the United States, regard should be had to the fact that that country is no longer neutral but has an interest, similar to our interest, in preven! enemy trading.
It follows that correspondence which would formerly have been stopped because its receipt was likely to encourage further business between the United States and enemy countries, need not now be detained if it contains purely routine matter which does not suggest actual or prospective trading with the enemy, and the receipt of which would be clearly useful to the Americans and not beneficial to the Central Powers.
1.1.9
26.5.17.
(Sgd.) G.S.H. PEARSON,
Colonel, G.S.