Foreign News: Coals to Victoria

"Anything to declare?" a customs officer asked the Hon. Mrs. Graham Lampson, just back from France, in London's drafty Victoria Station one day last week. "Half a hundredweight [56 Ibs.] of coal," she replied. And there it was, in her immaculate suitcase, each lump neatly wrapped in tissue paper. Mrs. Lampson, daughter-in-law of Baron Killearn, first British Ambassador to Egypt, explained that French friends, concerned over Britain's critical fuel shortage, had given it to her so she could keep warm.

...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!