The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-10
WAR IN POSTAL CONGRESS
A Snag Encountered in the I'm
mediate Transit System.
FRIENDS TO FORCE 1T THROUGH
a Caucus of Western Delegates De-
termlnes TO Bring 1t Before the
Congress in Spite Of Committee
Action-Korea Comes Into tie
UHfon-China's Action,

There was a caucus today between sew
eral of the representatives of the Western
governments TO the Universal Postal Con
gresS. al which it was determined to force
the matter of the immediate transit sys-
tern Of the con agress, even though the conn
rnittee Of WAYS and means should refuse TO
present a report.
This was The mostimportsnt event OF the
dav. though it occurred outside the GRIM
soned walls OF the old COrCoran Art Gal
lery building
when the failure OF the transit propo-
sirion in committee became imminent,
cable dispatches in cipher passed between
the delegates from most OF the govern
meuts on the western continent and the
heads of the postal systems orthese govern
ments.
These cipher dispatches cited the con-
tiition of affairs and asked for nStruc-
uons Those instructions began to ar
rive yesterday, and in each case the dele
gates were told To stand for the Austrian
proposition at first, and If defeated there
to fan back on the German proposition,
but not TO retreat- from that position.
The measure proposed by the Austrian
delegates and their allies calls for the inn
mediate and free transit OF mails through
transit countries. The proposal OF the
German delegates is that the present tariff
on transit mails shall be reduced one-haf,
The western delegates and the principal
sending countries OF Europe charge had
faith on the part Of the transit countries.
This question was brought before the
last Universal Postal Congress, which
was held at Vienna five years ago.
A number OF the delegates from countries
on the American continent will force the
fighting, and they determined at toddy's
caucus that the transit proposition should
not he Killed in committee
The attitude of Great Britain is not
clear. SuYre of the delegates believe that
Great Britain is playing a double game
The British delegates fetl that they hold
the key t. the situation, for if that gov
ernmeut should withdraw from the union
the universal postal system would be
wrecked.
For THIS reason. the delegates from the
western government are trying 10 learn
,uss what the British delegates denssnd,
so that a deal may hc brought about The
delegates from the South American repuh-
Hos ana 8tAlGbr VIII suA NtA'AIl 'Ai''Ait VA
their desires to accomplish the removal
Of the transit tariff On mails.
The representatives OF the United states
donat see n II be playing a very active part
In the work II the committees. Some Of
the delegates who have interests in ao!n-
,noa with taa United States charge that the
United states delegates are lax, and Uhat
they are alloUinc their diplomatic guests
from the European countries TO beat them.
The only formal work done today was
hythe Third Commission, or he committee
on money orders, postal drafts, and sub
scrip,ionS to newspapers. The United
States delegates took very little interest
In the proceedings as this Government has
nothing to ask in this direction
The surprise Of the day was the an
nouncpment by the represt natives OF
Korea that that government would enter
the Universal Postal Union. II was not
Thought that Korea would do this.
1t was learned today that the prospect
for China entering the postal union has
grown exceedingly slim during the past
two or three days.
Several Of the South American dele
gates said to-day that if the transit tariff
Is not reduced it would he necessary 70 in.
crease the rates of foreign postage in sew
cral Of the countries Of the south.