43

AMENDMENTS OF POSTAL UNION CONVENTION, AND DETAILED KEGULATIONS.

"Washington Congress, £897.

AMENDMENTS, &c. IN THE PRINCIPAL CONVENTION. Note.—The country named in the margin designates the author of the amendment. Articles 1, 2, 3. Nil. Article 4. For Sea transits— (a) To the territorial transit rates if the voyage does not exceed 300 nautical miles. Nevertheless, the sea transit upon a voyage not exceeding 300 nautical miles is gratuitous if the Administration interested receives already on account of mails or correspondence conveyed the remuneration applicable to the territorial transit. (b) To 5 francs per kilogramme of letters and post-cards, and to 50 centimes per kilogramme of other articles for the exchanges effected upon a transit exceeding 300 nautical miles between European countries, between Europe and the Ports of Africa and Asia situated upon the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, or from one to other of these ports, and between Europe and North America. The same rates are applicable to the transits assured throughout the Union between two ports of one state as well as between the ports of two states connected by the same line of vessels when the sea voyage does not exceed J 500 nautical miles. To 15 francs per kilogramme of letters and post-cards, and to 1 franc per kilogramme of other articles for all transits not included in paragraphs a and b. In the case of sea transits effected by two or more Administrations the total cost of transit may not exceed 15 francs per kilogramme of letters and post-cards, and 1 franc per kilogramme of other articles. These costs are in such cases divided between the Administrations participating in the transport in proportion to the distance traversed, without prejudice to other arrangements which may exist between the parties interested. The transit rates specified in the present Articles do not apply to the transits effected by services dependent on Administrations foreign to the Union, nor to transits within the Union by means of extraordinary services specially established or maintained by one Administration either in the interests or upon the request of one or several Administrations. The conditions of the latter class of transits are governed by common consent between the Administrations concerned. In addition, wherever the transit, territorial as well as nautical, is at present gratuitous or subject to more advantageous conditions, the present system is maintained. It is, nevertheless, understood— (1.) That the territorial transit rates will be reduced as follows : — By 5 per cent, during the first two years of application of the present Convention. „ 10 „ during the two years following. „ 15 „ thereafter. (2.) That the countries whose receipts and expenditure in connection with the territorial transits do not together exceed the sum of 5000 francs per annum, and whose expenditure exceeds their receipts for this transit, are exonerated from all payments on this account. (3.) That the sea transit rate of 15 francs per kilogramme of letters and post-cards provided in Sub-section (c), Clause 3 preceding, will be reduced as follows : — To 14 francs during the first two years of the application of the present Convention. To 12 francs during the two years following. To 10 francs thereafter,

Sec. 3, Sub-sec. 2. Adopted on the recommendation of the subcommittee.

Sec. 4.

Sec. S.