The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-20

communications unuef uate oi oAst
Lord Clarendon begins By reciting articles ninth and
twelfth Of the United States aud British postal convention
the articles which he says "cheiy bear the ques
ton and from these he proceeds argue that the United
States cannot justly Claim any better terms for the French
mails than those already offered by the British and ae
cepted by the French government lie audes the basis
which the present treaty appears 10 have been nego
aed and to prove that such the prior understanding
quotes from Rmemorandum by NJ. Bancroft in Novem-
Der 1913 about month before he signed the convention
and from letter dated January II, 1883 from Mr. Hub
bard TO Mr.. Everett"
These arguments not new, aud the most Of them
conceive have been fully answered by Mr. Lawrence in
bis communications 10 the British government particu-
lary in those Of the 10th Of August 1850 and 9Th Of
The memorandum Of Mr.. Bancroft above mentioned
brought the notice Of this department year
two ago, and il the authority Of this memorandum
alone that Mr. Hubbards statement of llh Of January
last, quoted by Lord Clarendon, was made
Coneeding the force TO the memorandum of Mr. Ban
croft for which the English government contends which
am by means disposed TO do, choosing 10 be guided
by the stpulaons in the treaty ITSELF II must be remem
bered that the exceptional clause inserted only In
der to protect Che interests of France and to be but
temporary in its character Neither Mr. Bancroft the
British government at that time supposed that would
be obliged 10 wait until British interests would be protect
ed that the present high transit rates would be kept up
her citizens and ours until the French govern
ment would reduce the rates between France
and England But apart from this view of the case the
attempt is made by means Of this memorandum to
make these transit rates permanent which the face
of the treaty itself but temporary.
of the principles which the treaty inits present form
negotiated The declared object Of the convention
forth in its preamble 70 promote the friendly relations
existing between the respective subjects and citizens OF the
countries 'by placing the communications by post be-
tween the territories Of her Britannia Majesty and those of
the United States upon more liberal and advantageous
footing take IL for granted therefore that il not
the intention 10 give either party any advantage over the
other but that the arrangement should in its operation be
as near as possible equally advantageous 10 both
That the arrangement has operated much favorably
to Great Britain than to the United States cannot be-
leve admit of just doubt It is equally certain that the
treaty would been ratified by government
had il been supposed that France long be excu
ded from the arrangement On the contrary, when Mr.
Bancroft signed the present articles of agreement II
with the fullest expectation that this arrangement in
spect to the transit rates of the two countries would be
speedily superseded by in accordance with the
views of mutual benefit and accommodation entertained by
this government"
As il is the delay in failing that part of the
treaty providing for the admission of France into the
rangement fair terms has had the effect not only to
withhold from the United States steamers by dverng to
the British line the conveyance Of mails which otherwise
would naturally have been sent by them but has caused
also, great complaint and dissatisfaction among our ct-
zens who feel that their rights well their convenience
have been dsregarded.
This government has demanded for the United States and
French mails through England transit rate of six pence
ounce not Lord Clarendon to intimate, for
purposes of profit but facilitate correspondence by thus
being enabled reduce the single rate of postage between
the United States and France low possible and
expenses. And if the British government would consent
to the required deduction would soon satisfy and as
Lord Clarendon that would not charge five cents
letter of quarter for the transit rate through
the United Kingdom France but that the details could
be arranged not to leave an enormous profit to
either government.
transported through the United States for twelve and
half OF the expense of this service
pared with that asked to be performed for mails between
England and France, ! have not the to form any
definite opinion Lord Clarendon thinks there be
doubt that the service performed by Great Britain between
Liverpool and Calais is far costly than the
i spon ap he trans SIN Of
through the United States However this may be, mag
inc that while the United States has always paid the
tractors for carrying the Canada mails the expense
of the service between Liverpool and Calais has not BEEN
will hereafter be- increased account Of the
veyance of the United States and French mails.
Lord Clarendon observes that snce the date of the
vention the United States have reduced their inland
their internal correspondence but reduction what
has been made their share of the total charged
the correspondence with this country Great Britain
which share still exceeds that of the United Kingdom by
penny per letter. though the service which the United
States perform taking into account that it does not in
cude the delivery of of the letters is at all events not
greater than that which perform
In respect TO the first part of this statement if the
respondence to and from Oregon and California is not to
be considered part of the internal correspondence of the
United States Lord Clarendon is correct Oregon and
California excluded FIVE cents, as before explained is the
United States and three cents the British inland share of
the postage under the treaty These the rates fixed
in view Of the expected reduction of our domestic post
age and, as already remarked, until the act of the 3D.
March, 1851 took effect the LIST July of that year. the
British mails had the advantage of this fve-cent rate all
distances in the United States over three hundred miles
Oregon and California excepted,) where citizens
required pay cents the single letter. But IT
be recoected that regard the British correspond
to and from Oregon and California via New iork and
Boston, the Of 1851 has reduced the rate from forty
ten cents and via Panama direct from thirty to twenty
cents the single letter. The United States rate the
British mails to and from the West Indies has in like
been reduced from twelve and halt cents TO ten cents
the single Moreover the British Post Office has been
permitted to continue sending its mails closed to and from
the Pacific the reduced Of twenty-five cents instead
of dollar ounce but if the present efforts towards
adjustment shall fail this privilege which secured
! by treaty, will not hereafter be allowed
As to the latter part of the Internationally, that the
performed by the United States in respect the
international correspondence is greater than that
dered by Great Britain do hesitate to say that il is
great mistake; and surprised that his lordship
knowing he does the extent of territory and the
pensve character of mail service should have been
betrayed into the expression of any such opinion This
point had supposed had been fully discussed in the nego
taon the treaty and the proportion of inland postage
assigned each party admitted to be at least not unvo
able Great Britain Yet Lord Clarendon does hes-
intimate that in any negotiation the subject
cher Maestys government will consider it their duty
claim equitable to the United kingdom--and
this in the face of the facts have stated and of the we'll
known determination frequently expressed the part OF
this to end the treaty unless terms
granted to the American public
have thought il necessary in order under
standing of this matter, thus lay before you somewhat
in detail the prominent features of the case aud
beg respectfully to request that will lose time in
! pressing il TO favorable issue.
repeat the United States seek unequal advantage
fair and equitable cement that shall be
ally beneficial and satisfactory, Is all that is desired
The suggestion OF Lord Clarendon that her Maiestys
uruap ,nSa1