The times., 1899-08-27
A PARCEL POST TREATY.
America and Germany Inaugurnte N
New Convention.

The first parcel post convention betwea,
the United States and any country in Eu-
rope is substantially a fact. Postmaster
General Smith and Baron Mumm Won
scnwartzenstein, the German Minister
yesterday signed such a convention ha.
tween the United States and Germany. II
VIII go into operation on the Ist of Octo-
Der, and will inaugurate a postal service
py means OF which persons in the Unite
states ana Germany may exchange By mail
| artlcles OF merchandise provided they are
put up IN packages which do not exceed
eleven pounds in weight The postage rat
.or parcels going from the United States
TO Germany is fixed at IL cents fn- each
pound or fraction OF pound. The Tats i,
Germany on parcels for the United Sta.e |.
IS nxed at marks and 40 pfennigs per par
eel. whatever its weight but a reduced
rate OF mark and so pfennigs will D.oba
Oily De adopted for parcel not exeeedinv
In weight one kilOgram. equivalent 10 two
pounds three ounces
Inc United States has parcel post con-
Tenticns with several countries in Central
ana Sootn America and the West Indian
ISLANDS, but this is the first conveotio,
whlcn mas been made with any country in
A.uiope. II mas been subject OF nsgotia-
tlon and consideration for fourteen vears
AS long ago as 1885 the postal aduinIsfra-
tlon oi Germany proposed such an arranse-
inent between the two countries ard fhs
proposal was from time TO time renewed
II Was always declined with a sirnnIa
statement that the United States was NOT
prepared 10 negotiate such convention
| Win any Government in Europe. Tn
present proposal has been under consider
aeOh iof several weeks. and was practically
completed yesterday in the Postmaster
and the German Minister signed both the
copies. The law empowers the Postuasfar
General 70 make such conventions nv ami
win the advice and consent of the Pres
ldent- The President has been consuIte1
uurlhg TINS negotiation and heartily an
proves tne arrangement. He is expected u
sign the convention on his return to tbs
Capital.
england. France. and other countries OF
Europe have sought 10 effect such an
agreement with the United States. but the
convention with Germany is the first which
has been made
An official prominently concerned IN tho
negotiations for the convention lust CON
ciudsd, said yesterday: .One nav safely
predict that both the United States and
Germany viii profit alike under the new
arrangement Already with the West In
dies. Mexico, and few countries Of south
america the United States has a ereditabIe
pareeis-po arrangement which compares
IaVoraDly with that of England When il
comes, however, to dealing with Europe.
the situation is reversed We have a sam
pie post but that is more tantalizing than
useful TO all save few traders. Articles
cannot have any salable value, they must
not exceed 3-41, or, in some cases. I2
ounces IN weight, or be more than u inches
In length, s inches in breadth. and 4
inches in depth, except in the case OF rolls
not more than u inches in length and S
inches IN diameter. Only one article of a
Kind may be sent, and pair OF articles
such as gloves OF shoes. is not accepted
as sample Articles for sale are not
transmitted except when fully prepaid at
the rate Of letter postage to the country
addressed, a regulation practically pro-
hibitiye. Unfortunately foreign express
rates on small packages are not such as
to compensate for the postal deficiencies.
In view of the wonderful growth Of the
foreign trade of the United States the con-
elusion Of the convention is to be well
coined as the first step of a system by
which parcels can be transported between
the shores OF the United States and Europe.
Asia, Africa, and Australia at rates not
outrageously dispToportionate to the cost
CT heavy freightage, thereby opening an
avenue for innumerable transactions and
creating an intercommunication more i'm
portant as binding people together than the
mere extent of the parcels traffic itseY
would Indicate"