Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-12-03

concluded with the United Kingdom OF Great
Britain and Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland
the Netherlands. the North German Union
and Ilaly, securing important reductions of
postage, and introducing other valuable i'm.
provements in our postal intercourse with
those countries. Negotiations are also in pro.
gress with the French post department for q
similar arrangement, which il 10 hoped NAV
term nate with like success
The leading features of the postal conven.
ton with the United Kingdom, which goes
into full effect on the lst of January, Is6s, are
I. A reduction OF the International letter rate
from twenty-four TO twelve cents.
2. The standard weight for letters one ha II
onnce in the United Kingdom, or fifteen
erammes in the United STATES, with uniform
progression from that basis, one additional rate
Tor each additional weight or fraction OF it,
3 Prepay Of letters optional, but up .
paid letters 10 be su beet 10 a fine or delivery
=. Prepay ment OF all other postal packers
compulsory in The mailing country, at rates to
be established by each department, within n
prescribed minimum for book packets and
samples, and the receiving country TO deliver
free OF charge.
5. The postage collected in each country
upon International correspondence, written or
printed, TO be equally divided, Oh the princi-
pie that every letter receives an ans wer, and
the labors OF each Office are substantially
equal. But each country 10 collect for its ows
use The fines imposed on unpaid letters which
IL receives from the other.
8. The transit charge for letters in closed
mails, one. hall the interior rate in each coun-
try, viz: one and a half cents for the United
States, and one-half of a penny for Great
Britain. 10 be computed by the ounce, or thirty
grammes on letters, and by the pound or kilo-
gramme on other mails.
:. Each country 10 make its own arran ge
ments for the despatch OF mails to the other
by we'll appointed ships, and to pay for the
transportation OF the mails which IL des-
patches.
:. The free transfer of extra territorial
mails IN the seaports of the two countries
The conventions concluded with Belgium
the Netherlands, the North German Union.
Italy, and Switzerland, respectively, contain
substantially the same principles and pro.
ylsioEs az the con ven ton with The United
Kingdom, with euch slight notifications as
were necessary TO meet the peculiarities of the
postal system OF each country
The single rate tor letters bet weeu the II nj
ted STATES aud Belgium. by closed mails
through England, Is reduced from twenty.
seven 10 fifteen cents; between the United
States and Prussia, embracing all the States
no included within the North German Union
the single letter rate Is reduced from thirty 10
fifteen cents; and the same rate OF fifteen cents
has been established 10 the Netherlands, Ita,y
and 10 Switzerland. respectively, by closed
mails through England, thus securing uni.
form rate OF letter postage 70 each Of these
countries.
North German UnionNlso establish reduced
International rate OF ten cents for letters trans
mitied by regular lines OF mali steamships
plyips directly between ANY port OF me URitsd
Staies ana any port in the norm OF Europe
ence transmitted in close mails Ie adopted In