The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-04
4 oERMAMAMERrcAN QUESTION:
The Rights OF Germany Over Letters and
Papers from the United States.

Fom NE Baltimore Bu'sfiH.
WAsHtNGToN. Jan 81 have had inter-
Views with the pOstn'Hetrr-Grnrrul, tho Scrrr-
tnry OF state, amt Mr. J. II. Blackfan. who
represented the United States Government at
the postal conventions at Born in 1875 and at
Paris. June /. 1878 and with other experts in
documentary muitcrs to ascertain what pro-
lection United States mail matter would have in
Germany und"r the laws recently rnuctel. |
made statement of the complaints OF the Ger
mans 10 Gen. Key. and laid before him some
eNirHrts when had culled from the treaty con-
corn ing thu formation ~ n postal union signed
ut Borne oct. .. 1874. and rititled aud approved
1875. amt pointing a. the last uirILrHpN ~ she
fourth article. there is res 'tvod tp 'l, Govern
mont of cnrh country of the union tlr riHht to
refuse tO convey over it, territory or to deliver
articles specified in the present article with re-
gard To which the laws, orders. aud dcrrccs
which regulate the conditions OF their puhliru-
tion and circulation have not been observed |
asked him If that provision applied TO seditOus
or obscene matter. and If writings could be
Gen. Key-In America it applies to obscene
matter. and in tho European countries ~ tho
Union 10 4editous matter. We are not afraid
OF srditiOn here. But come with m to my SUI
prrini'ndeut oi Foreign Mails he was pres mt
and knows more about it than any man in tho
While in trausitu. nsked: Have any COM
plants come to YOU rs to the opening or drtrn-
ton Of mail from the United States arriving in
Gen Key and the superintendent-Non ms to
the opening " letters, tut newspapers are often
Rerorter-Cun TIE Prussian Government open
letters hy virtue of Art. 4?
MIR. Black an-IllM was put in there more
particularly To- govern the circulation Of news
papers md pnmrhts in Europe. whore the
proximity Of states rendrrs speech dangerous
and war easy. Few Governments will take tho
linerty 10 tHmper with "a seal
Eoporter-rhcy open. detain. and destroy
only printed matter bv the provisions Of the
Postmaster General-Yes and we do not allow
the transmission OF anything that Is prohibited
b. stipulation II we know IT,
kcpurter-ls there anything in the agreement
thnt gives any country Of the union the right to
Mr.. Nothing that grants uneouivo-
caliy mat right. hut thcy might be detained 10y u
broad INTERPRETATIONS
tious Right not 10 forward and not to admit
into its service post cards or any description Of
writing which may be forbidden by the statu-
tory or adininIstrdtiVe enu'tments in force In
the country. The same may bee the case with
letters which may boar externally any writing
OF the character referred to. Now, suppose u
seditious card or u letter bearing the hand
writing OF an exile or any person known to
utter and write nothing buf -cditious seutini.nts
were 20 arrive NJ the Berlin Post ONCE. could Il
be detained. and would the detainrr be sup
ported by that regulatonl
Mr.. Blarkfau-We exclude obscene matter
under that But it does not Justify the rreklr
G~trnton and opcning of matter such a. the
HeInliiih uoN.lninrnt Wonlu pe empowered To
the opening Of every letter" II would huv. 10
admit United States letters. rs heretofore until
II withdraws from the postal union. which
would require n years notice. Meantime IL
would have to discriminate very nicely In the
detention Of American letters az could not omen
thoml To get the siigi trSt eneouruEc ment from
the postal union. Now from my idea Of the
man. Bismarck would put the rngulat. ON you
have read and 4th article together aud detain il
not open lrt,'rs.
Beporter-w You'd you submit to that?
Postmaster Gcncrul-Mc should not permit
such violation OF our rights.
Reporter-The Chancellor would quote tho
treaty
Postmaster General-Article &c provides that
In case Of disagreement as 10 the inter- refnti
the question shall be decided 10y arbitration
each of the officers concerned choos ina. another
member not concerned. The union might sup
lort MIN IN the case OF detention. but u would
not In the opening OF letters. and We would not
submit 10 IT,
kcporter-What would be your mode Of pro.
cedurc II letters We're oucn"dY Would YOU de-
mani justice through our Secretary of State?
Postmaster General-l! we had documentary
evidence We should forward II directly 20 the
German Government and ask an explanation.