Safety of Mails.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 1, 19 August 1914, Page 8

Safety of Mails.

UNDER HAGUE CONVENTION. The Postmaster-General thinks it will allay public anxiety to publish an' extract from tho Hague Convention (1907) relating to tho inviolability of postal correspondence; as follows: — "Convention (No. 11) relative to certain Restrictions on the Exercise of the Right of Capture in Maritime War. "CHAPTER I.—POSTAL CORRESPONDENCE. "Article 1. "The postal correspondence of neutrals or belligerents, whatever its official or private character, tound on board a neutral or enemy ship on tlio high seas is inviolable. If the ship is detained, the correspondence is forwarded by the captor with tho least possible delay. "Tho provisions of the preceding paragraph do not, in case of violation of blockade, apply to correspondrr.ee proceeding to or from a blockaded port.

“Article 2

“The inviolability of postal correspondence does not exempt a neutral mailship from the laws and customs of naval war respecting neutral mer-chant-ships in general. The ship, however, may not he searched except when absolutely necessary, and then only with as much consideration and expedition as possible.” This was signed by Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Japan, Netherlands, Servia, Switzerland, Turkey.