47

Article 7. Correspondence with countries foreign to the Union, V. The offices of the Union which have relations with countries foreign to the Union furnish the other offices of the Union with a list of such countries, with the following information :— (1.) Cost of sea or land transit applicable to the conveyance of mails -beyond the limits of the Union. (2.) Description of correspondence admitted. (3.) Whether prepayment of postage be compulsory or optional. (4.) Limit for each class of correspondence, and validity of postage collected (to destination or to port of discharge.) (5.) Extent of pecuniary responsibility with regard to registered articles. (6.) Possibility of admitting acknowledgments of delivery. (7.) As far as possible the rates of postage in force in the Countries beyond the Union in comparison with the Countries of the Union. Article 8. Application of the Stamps, VI. The stamping of correspondence posted on packets in the moveable boxes or in the hands of Commanders devolves, in the cases contemplated by Article 11., Section 3, of the Convention, upon the Postal Agent on board, or, if there be none, upon the Post Office to which the correspondence is delivered; in the latter case the Office impresses the correspondence with its ordinary datestamp, and adds the remark " Packet" by means of a stamp or label. Postage stamps not obliterated through fault or omission in the service of origin must be cancelled in the usual manner by the Office which discovers the irregularity. Article 9. Indication of the number of Rates, VII. The words " wholly unpaid or insufficiently prepaid " have been inserted after " correspondence." Article 10. Insufficient prepayment, VIII. Nil. Article 11. Stipulations respecting registered articles, XV. Add the following paragraph : — " It is however absolutely necessary to indicate each registered article by an ordinal number. If the regulations of a re-despatching office require the indication of registered articles by a new ordinal number, that office must strike out the original number, but in such a manner that it shall not be rendered illegible." Section 4. Vienna Regulations struck out. After " report the case," insert the words " by verification certificate to the administration to which the office of origin is subordinate. The certificate must state, very exactly, the office of origin, the date of posting, and the number of the article. This condition is not applicable to registered articles which, through re-direction, become subject to increased postage. These latter articles are dealt with as required by Section 2, Article 25 of the present regulations. Article 12. Indemnity for the loss of registered article, XII. Nil. Article 13. Acknowledgments of delivery of registered articles, IX. They are accompanied by a form in' conformity to Model B. annexed hereto. This form is s prepared by the office of origin, or by another office designated by the despatching office, and attached by a piece of string to the article to which it relates. If it fails to reach the office of destination, the latter prepares a new acknowledgment of delivery. Acknowledgments of delivery must be formulated in French, or bear a sublineary translation in that language.

France.

Sec. 3. France.

New Sec. (8.) Switzerland.

Sec. I. Egypt.

Sec. 3. Austria-Hun-gary.

Germany, Belgium, France, and Sweden. Sec. 4. (Washington.) Belgium.

Sec. 2. Belgium.