7

F.—s

Sub-Enclosure 1 to Enclosure in No. 3. The General Post Office to the Treasure. My Lords, — General Post Office, 15th February, 1876. In my letter of the 19th ultimo, I submitted, for the consideration of your Lordships, a scheme put forth by tho Postmaster-General of Germany, for the purpose of settling the terms upon which, so far as charges for sea conveyance are concerned, all countries and colonies beyond sea may hereafter be admitted into the Postal Union. Those countries and colonies were divided into four groups, and the total single rates of postage to be charged on letters forwarded to the countries comprised in such groups were 2^d., 5d., 7-Jd-, and lOd. respectively. British India was included in the second group, but, at the recent Postal Conference at Berne, the arrangement concluded was drawn up in such a form that the postage to be collected upon a letter addressed to British India may be as much as 6d., instead of 5d., as proposed in the German scheme, and it is intended to levy the higher rate accordingly, and in conformity to the authority given by your Lordships. In adverting to that circumstance I beg leave to inform your Lordships that, at the Conference just referred to, and which was attended by delegates from France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Egypt, Sweden, and Switzerland, a very decided opinion was expressed against the establishment of any maximum postage rate higher than that agreed upon in the case of British India — i.e., 6d. It is hardly necessary to remark that a reduction to 6d. per half-ounce letter on all the correspondence addressed to the countries and colonies comprised in the third and fourth groups of the German scheme, would of course increase the loss which would have to be borne by this country. Your Lordships, however, will probably bo of opinion that a proposal, supported by so many States, deserves your serious consideration. I have, &c, The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, &c. John Manners.

Sub-Enclosure 2 to Enclosure in No. 3. Exteact from Letter from the Postmaster-General, Germany, to the Postmaster-General. The countries beyond sea might be divided into four groups : — First Group. —Countries which belong to British North America. Second Group. —East Indies, Further India, Australia. Third Group.— West Indies, A^enezuela, United States of Columbia, Central America, Mexico, Guiana, Brazil, Argentine Republic, Paraguay, Uruguay, China, Japan, Cape Colony, Natal. Fourth Group. —AVest Coast of South America (Peru, Chili, Bolivia, Ecuador). Ist. The countries indicated under No. .1 would be able to enter the Union in the same manner as the United States of America, without the necessity for any additional stipulation to the Postal Union Treaty. 2nd. Sea-transit Payment for the sea conveyance beyond the Union— 20 francs per kilog. for letters and post-cards. 1 franc per kilog. for printed papers. Sea-postage Rates — 25 centimes for letters. 12^ centimes for post-cards. 5 centimes for printed papers. 3rd. Sea-transit Payment for the sea conveyance beyond the Union — 40 francs per kilog. for letters and post-cards. 1 franc per kilog. for printed papers. Sea-postage Rates —■ 50 centimes for letters. 12-2- centimes for post-cards. 5 centimes for printed papers, &c. 4th. Sea-transit Payment for the sea conveyance beyond the Union —■ 60 francs per kilog. for letters and post-cards. 2 francs per kilog. for printed papers. Sea-postage Rates —- 75 centimes for letters. 25 centimes for post-cards. 10 centimes for printed papers.

Sub-Enclosure 3 to Enclosure in No. 3. Memorandum. On letters for British North America, the AVest Coast of Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, the rate of postage is already as low as it would be under the German scheme. On letters for the East Indies, Cape Colony, and Natal, the rate will be as low as it would be under the German scheme, on the Ist July next. Letters for the Mauritius aud the Seychelles are conveyed by French packet; any loss therefore arising from a reduction of postage would be borne by France. The German scheme, therefore, if adopted, will involve a loss consequent on a reduction of postage in the case of the following colonies and countries, viz. : —