, 1879-04-26
SANCTlTY OF THE MAILS.
Tho Alleged Tamper!ng with Letters #,
Germany Offartnfiy Denfed-OAiclnt Cur
rearnntlenee on tho Subject.

Tho Alleged Tampcr!ng with Letters #,
Germany OflcIntiy Dcnfed-Oniclnt Cor.
respnndenoe on tho Subject.
WAsn1NaToN, April 2t.-In tho session Of the
General Diet on the 28th ult. tile Government
was questioned by Mr.. Lcibknccht, mcnbcr of
the socialist-Democrat partv, regarding tho al
legged violation OF the secrecy Of letters hy the
German Post Oi1lco. htr, Lcibknccht stated, on
tho authority Of m American correspondent Of
the London Times, that things lad gone so far
TINT in America 1t was subject Of Official Discus
sion, and that conversation had occurred bo-
tween postmaster-Gcncral Koy, Sir. Dlackfau,
Superintendent OF Foreign Mails, md this cor
respondent, IN which the two officials Ind stated
American letters being opened In ucrmauy, but
both colnplhtllea Of froquert cases in which let
ters from America had been delayed IN Ger
lnnuy; tlat boil, officials gave utcrance to their
dcep ;indfenation about this proceeding; md
of letters should be substantially proven, tho
Amorlcun Administration would Institute pro-
ccc4iga agairst the German U1lice, OIL tho basis
Of the Universal Postal Treaty, all that, II the
Gcrtnan Government. mud Tho Postmaster Gun.
crai especially, should continue violating tlh,
sccroey Ut letters, the withdrawal OF Gur!nauy
from thu Universal Postal Vplou would bu
necessary.
This declaration In the Diet led I'd u letter
from tho German Director OF Posts to tIa De-
partmcnt here. tnnulring rs to the truth OF The
allcged conversation. Tho lottcr concludes rs
f0lloYR:
~ think 1t unnecessary to nsxtrc YOU that
nelther American nor any other letters have
been opened Or delayed In this country inten-
ttunaliy nnd frum political motive, bccausn |
llnyc no doubt you ara fully convinced thut tho
alleged felony Is entirely unfoundcd."
a rcuty has been returned by Mr.. Dtackfan
! tlat newspaper reporter caileu at the Depart
ulelt about two or three months ago and Ill
CURED II, under the proytatuna OF tho postal
Union, nny Postal Administration ha1 the right
to vlola.e thu sanctftY OF a letter by breaking
thu seal and opcu!ng 1t, tic reporter stating ut
thu sal1,e tlMo tAt ho had Information tfat
letters from the United States wgsc opened in
Germany by authority Of the German Gov
crn'ncns. Gen. Key And MIR, Backfan both
stascd II! really that they had M KIM Hlelga that
any loitcr. had been opcned In Germany
'nr Its delivery purposcly delayed, md
that they did not belleyo 1t possbe
tiat any such trcatmont OF lcttora was sane-
toned by the German Government; they also
stated tllut no aucii right WINS granted by tho
Treaty of beruo, mud that II my authenticated
case Ut the breaking opcn Of 4 litter forwarded
IN the malls from this country or Of its wlilful
in Germany tlie attcnton Of tilr Gcrliiau Postui
Administration would 10 called to TIC trrogll-
larity with 4 request for an explanation,
Neither thu Postmaatof- General nor the Super
intendent Of Foreign Malls gava any ctednnco
TO thu alleged violations OF lotters or their de-
tcnti0n from political motives tn Germany, uur
wns Any feeling at Indignation expressed by
either Ut them IN their conversation with the
rUuDttcr.