CO129-439 - Others - 1916 — Page 116

ןfי““.

kum

show that there has been frequent complaints as to the Mails to the East við Siberia having been tampered with, the allegation being that the Japanese had made

quite a fine art of tampering with Mails and postal correspondence, The General Post Office have throughout taken the line that the allegations as to regularities

were exaggerated.

I should say that there was no doubt that the envelopes now sent had been tampered with in some way and if, as in the case to which Mr. Smith refers, the outer envelopes show no signs of being tampered with, the most likely inference is that specialists were at

work.

we should send

I suggest that, at any rate for the present,/no secret and e confidential despatches, which have reference to war

matters, við Siberian route. The saving in time which this route effects under peace conditions met be greatly diminished under war conditions. I note that the Mail now in question left on the 29th of Jamary and is answered on the 3rd of March, so it probably took about

5 weeks. But with the advent of Spring and the uncertain- ty as to the future of the campaign in Russia, the risk

of loss of Mails on the Siberian route seems to me to

Ansible advantage jatte

outweigh any ikke.possibill of saving time.

Mr. Grange, Mr. Smith, S.R.2 and Eastern Department

note

should know the decision arrived at and when our action has been settled we had better send the present note and enclosures to the Post Office with reference to the previous correspondence.

Registic later

MW

Wilso

Pq

M. Robins

TCM. 20/2/16.

on

? Any obsons

2

Ale

I

30.3.16

In writing to the goo we nugho engur, what racing of time is effected

at ay

rati

shout and be sent au dones the affiral of the sit for the Mustablo's point on heath

that cory:

which

another shoula divorced

suppleant

unan prevent conditions in sending to A Hory Weihaiwer via Seberia. Jave use the impression that, even wrth delay caused by was conditions, the northern route

there is 115 is much quicker.

a

unurally delay by the sea route ouring to confection in the baval. The fact that the th from wxw is dated & March 1 refers to 6.0. mail of 29 Jan does not necexxarily prove that that nail had only just been received.

пух

While we can pickout I read and fuez all the bouge Mecret dexps, it would be less complicated,

▸ would

certarily grive FR lear trouble; if it were decided forered all dexps by the Lea

Thursday evenings

ай

coute on

& abandon the Liberais route for the duration ofthe war".

Hollis

ты

37

16

Under GRO. on show that during the war a considuath saving of time is made by using the Russian conto In! sondererything by sea. His guilt

likely