Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-10-26
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states OF America and Of Belgium, being de.
sirous to regulate by new Convention the
postal intercourse between the two countries
the undersigned, being duly authorized by
their respective Governments, have agreed
upon the following articles:
ARTICLE 1. .prrrll
There shall be an exchange OF correspon-
dence, by means OF their respective Post De-
partments, between the United States of
America and Belgium, and this correspondence
shall embrace:
l. Letters. ordinary and regis tered.
,. Newspapers, Ok.Packets, Prints of all
kinds. comprising maps, plans, engrs wings.
drawings, photographs, autographs, and all
other like productions OF mechanical processes
sheets OF music, etc.,) and patterns or samples
of merchandise. including grains and seeds.
And such correspondence may be exc hanged,
whether originating in either or said countries
and destined for the other, or originating in or
destined for foreign countries TO which they
may respectively serve as Intermediates.
ARTIoLE2. 8-,r..r
The OH ces for the exchange of mails shall
be ta) on the part OF the United States . 81
J. New York. sE
=. Boston.
(b) On the part Of Belgium: -.g---..t
2. Ostend, travelling Ofice) -rf
g. Ostend, tlocal) j.. ..a +
The two Post Departments may at any time
discontinue either Of said Offices OF exchange or
establish others. "
Each ohce shall make Its own arrangements
for the despatch OF It's mails to the other office
a. its OWE cost, pay the expense Of such inter-
mediate transportation. 1t is also agreed that
the cost OF International ocean and territorial
transit OF the closed mails, between the respec.
tive frontiers, shall be first betrayed by that
one OF the two Departments which shall have
obtaiDed from the intermediar the most ia.
vorab)e pecuDiary terms for such convevancs;
and any amount so advanced by one for &C.
n rQj
bursed.
ARTICLES.
The standard weight for the single rate of
postage and rule of progression shall be.
l. For letters. Is grammes.
2 For all other correspondence mentioned
IN the second paragraph of the f1rst article
that which each Department snail adopt for
the mails which 1t dispatches to the other,
adapted to the convenience and habits of its
interior administration.
But each office shall give notice to the other
subsequent changes thereof.
The rule OF progression shall always be an
A. ditional single rate for each additional sin.
gle weight or fraction thereof
The weight stated by the despatching Office
shall always be accepted, saving the case Of
manifest mistake.
ARTICLE S.
The single rate OF postage on the direct cor
respondencs exchanged between the United
Stars and Eelgium shall be as follows:
L. On prepaid letters from the Unitsd States,
Is cents.
2. On prepaid letters from Belgium, 80 CEN
times.
3. On all other correspondence mentioned in
the second paragraph Of the first article, the
rate shall be. for the mails sent, that which the
despatchinR office shall adopt In conformity
with the convenience and habits of its interior
administration. But each office shall give
notice 10 the other Of the rate it adopts. and Of
any sub,o Quent charge thereof.
ARTICLE g.. 4.4 ...-
th0r2 = osfQ lioho
line OF steam communication between the ports
Of the United State1 and OF Belgium. adapted
10 the re egular transportation OF the mails be-
tween the two countries and acceptable to the
two Departments, 1t is agreed that the inter-
national single letter rate applicable tn this
route shall be reduced to 10 cents in the United
states and 50 centimes in Belgium, OF which
six cents go centimes) shall represent the
maritime rate: and for the other correspond
ence mentor I'd in the second paragraph OF
the first article the maritime RAE in such
case shall be 10 cents, (5G centimes,) per kiio-
gramme.
But this article shall not be carried into effect
until time upon which the two Post Depart.
ments shall hereafter agree.
ARTICLE
The prepayment of postage on ordinary let
ters shall be optional, subject to the condition
in article VIII mentioned, but on registered
letters, and on all other correspondence men
toned In the second paragraph OF the first
article 1t shall be compulsory.
. ARTICLE s.
If, however, the postage on any article shall
be prepaid insuftciently, it shall neverthelfs Is
be forwarded to its destination charged with
the deficient postrge. Upon the delivery of
any unpaid or insufficiently paid letter, or ef
there shall be levied fine in the United States
of five cents, in Eelgium Of 30 centmes, This
fine, as well as the deficient postage on other
articles than letters, shall not enter into the
accounts between the two offices, but shall be
retained TO the use OF the Office collecting the
same.
ARTICLE 9
Registered articles shall. In addition to the
postage, be subject to q register fee of ten cents
in the nited States, and OF 50 centimes In Bel.
Rinm, and this fee shall always be prepaid.
Each office is at liberty to reduce this fee for
the mails it dispatches.
ARTICLE TO- -.. .....-.-
Any correspondence may be registered, not
only for international cOrrcspon dence but alss
for correspondence originating IN or destined
for other countries to which these two admin.
istrations may respectively serve as interme.
diaries for the transmission of such registered
articles
Each Department shall notify the other OF
the countries TO which it may thus serve as in
termedlary.
Accounts between the TWO offices shall be
fixed on the following basis: from the total
amount OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and register
fees, collected In each country on letters add
ed to the total amount OF prepaid pestages and
register fees On other articles sent. the de.
spatchiDg Off ce shall deduct the amount re-
qnired at the agreed rate, for the intermediate
transit thereof between the two frontiers, and
the amount of the two net sums shall be eu nal.
~ divided between the two, Offices. - -.
ARTICLE 12
The correspondence mentioned in the second
paragraph OF the first article shall be de.
spatched under regulations to be established
by the despatching office; but these shall en-
brace the following: ..,...,.--,
J. No packet shall contain anything which
shall be closed against Inspection, nor any
rurttt "h h0f fnr
state from whom or 70 whom the packet 10
terms or samples Of merchandise.
2. No packet may exceed two feet in length,
or one foot in any other dimension. . 80
3. Neither ONCE shall be bound to deliver
any article the Importation which may be
prohibited by the laws or regulations OF the
country Of destination. .s@' :
4. Sc long IS any customs duty is chargeablo
on any article sent to the United States 1t may
be levied for the use Of the customs
5. Except as above, ne charge whatever shall
be collected on the mails exchanged, other
wise than herein expressly provided.
ARTICLE 13.
The Pest Departments OF the United States
and Of Belgium shall establish by agreement.
and in conformity with the Arrangements In
force atthe time, the conditions upon which
the TWO ofiices may exchange ia open mails
the correspondence originating In or destined
to other foreign countries to which they may
respectively serve. as intel imediariss. 4 ~ .
cor respon dsnce shall only be charged with the
rate applicab to difecs intsrnsuonal CORES.
oDdence, augmented BY the postage due to
foreign countries and anv ofher tax for ~ r..