F.— 7

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The colonial Minister has cabled to the Governor of the French establishments in Oceania to ask him to fix by cable the period for which the new scheme will continue. The Minister for Foreign Affairs will inform the British Embassy of the reply received. I have, &c, R. PoiNCARE. His Excellency the Right Hon. Sir F. Bertie, G.C.8., G.C.M.G., &o.

No. 15. The Right Hon. the Secretary op State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Govehsoh. My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th March, 1912. With reference to your telegram of the 15th February [not printed], I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a despatch addressed to His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris on the subject of the date of the coming into operation of the agreemetit regarding postagerates between New Zealand and French Oceania, together with copy of the reply received from the Ambassador. 2. I take this opportunity of enclosing copies of the agreement as published in the treaty series. I have, &c, L. Haroourt. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., <fee.

Enclosure in No. 15. The Under-Skoretary of State, Foreign Office, to His Excellency the British Ambassador, Paris. Sir,— Foreign Office, 16th February, 1912. With reference to Sir F. Bertie's despatch of the 6th instant, respecting the pennypostage agreement between New Zealand and French Oceania, I transmit to you herewith a copy of a letter [not printed] now received from the Colonial Office enclosing telegraphic correspondence with the Government of New Zealand on the subject. I should be glad if you would make inquiry and inform me whether the French Government see any objection to the proposal put forward by the New Zealand Government as regards the date of the agreement coming into operation. \ have. &c, The Hon. L. D. Carnegie. M.V.0., fee. Eyre A. Crowe.

Sub-enclosure L in No. 15. His Excellency the Bkitish Ambassador, Paris, to the Right Hon. the Secretary of State, Foreign Office. Sir,— Paris, 14th March, 1912. 1 have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of Monsieur Poincar6's reply to communication which Mr. Carnegie addressed to His Excellency in accordance with the instructions contained in your despatch of the 16th ultimo respecting the. proposal made by the Government of New Zealand as to the date for the coming into operation of the penny-postagf agreement between New Zealand and French Oceania. 1 have, Ac, (For the Ambassador), The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., E.G., &o. L. D. Carnegie,

Sub-enclosure 2 in No. 15. Hiis Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Paris, to His Excellency the British s Ambassador, Paris. [Translation.] Sir,— Paris, 13th .March, 1912. By letter dated the 17th February \i\oi printed], Your Excellency informed me of a proposal of the Governor of New Zealand that the agreement reducing to Id. the postage on single letters between Tahiti and New Zealand should be held in abeyance in Oceania, and not in New Zealand. Referring to the note of this Department dated the sth February, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that the colonial Minister has cabled accordingly to the Governor of the French establishments of Oceania. The delay caused by this officer in the reply to the cablegram mentioned in the note of this Department is explained by the fact that Tahiti is not connected with any cable, and that all communications must, in order to reach Tahiti, Papeete, make use of the steamship service leaving San Francisco. T have, &c, R. Poincare. His Excellency the Right Hon. Sir F. Bertie, G.C.8., G.C.M.G., Ac.