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question of the control of aliens had already recommended that a list of aliens should be kept up in certain centres, and a list of suspected aliens might be given to the postal authorities in those centres.

SIR M. NATHAN said that the Post Office had an excellent organisation for putting the censorship of letters into force when authorised to do so. He pointed out, however, that it was important for the postal authorities to know the names of the persons abroad with whom suspected persons in this country are corresponding.

(Conclusions.)

It is felt that it would be impracticable to isolate postally for any prolonged period any large centre like a seaport town. It would, of course, he possible to stop the mails for any period, long or short, but having regard to the many other means of communication open, it is not believed that this would prevent main facts regarding mobilisation, immediate or gradual, from being transmitted to other centres not affected by the postal embargo. It is felt that the news of mobilisation could not be kept secret, that it might not matter much even if it became known, and in any case the surprising event of a cessation of communication by post would convey the information of mobilisation to the foreign Governments.

2. The power at present possessed, and secretly exercised on rare occasions, of opening, examining, and impounding correspondence believed to be contrary to the public interest, should be used whenever the necessity arises. It is hoped that the formation of a register of aliens resident in the United Kingdom might enable the military authorities to prepare lists of suspected individuals in naval and military centres, and of the persons with whom they correspond. The correspondence of these aliens might be subjected to censorship in time of strained relations without resort being had to any further legislation. The postal authorities, in conjunction with the military authorities, should consider beforehand the kind of treatment that should be given to such correspondence.

3. The Sub-Committee having come to the conclusion that it would in practice probably be impossible to prevent the main facts regarding the mobilisation of our forces from becoming known abroad during the precautionary period, feel strongly the importance of our being as well informed regarding the movements of foreign fleets and armies, particularly at sea-ports. It should be perfectly easy to obtain good, certain, and detailed information of important movements and occurrences, and the Sub-Committee feel bound, when considering the question of postal censorship, to record their impression that adequate funds should be provided, and that arrangements should be built up and gradually perfected over a long period of time.

4. The Sub-Committee feel assured that, when once a state of war has been reached, ample powers will always be readily conceded by His Majesty's Government for any further measure of postal censorship which the circumstances of the moment may render necessary.

2, Whitehall Gardens, S.W.

Proceedings of the Second Meeting, held on January 14, 1913.

Present:

Colonel The Right Honourable J. E. B. SEELY, D.S.O., M.P., Secretary of State for War (in the Chair).

Sir EYRE CROWE, K.C M.G., C.B., Assistant Under Secretary, Foreign Office. Vice-Admiral Sir H. B. JACKSON, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., Chief of the War Staff,

Admiralty.

Sir W. GRAHAM GREENE, K.C.B., Permanent Secretary, Admiralty.

Brigadier-General D. HENDERSON, C.B., D.S.O., Director of Military Training,

War Office.

Colonel G. M. W. MACDONOGH, General Staff, War Office.

Mr. R. H. BRADE, C.B., Assistant Secretary, War Oflice.

Sir ALEXANDER KING, K.C.B., Secretary, Post Office.

THE Sub-Committee discussed the general lines of the Report, in which their conclusions are embodied.

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