The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-27
PARCELS POST TO GERMANY
FIRST CONVENTION OF THE KIND
WITH EUROPEAN NATION.

An Arrangement Whereby MsFchnndiso
Weighing Not More Than Eleven Pounds
MAY he Sent BY Mail at Reasonable
Rates-Tho Advantages to BE Gained.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 28-The FIRST parcels
post convention between the United States
and any country In Europe Is now fact.
Postmaster General Smith and Baron Mumm
Won Sehwartzenstein, the German Minister
TO day signed such a convention between the
United States and Germany. 1t will go into
operation on Oct. l. and will begin a postal
service by means OF which persons in the
United States and Germany may exchange by
mail articles OF merchandise. provided they
are put up in packages which do not exceed
eleven pounds in weight The postage rate
for parcels going from the United States
to Germany is fixed at II cents
for each pound or fraction OF a pound.
The rate In Germany on parcels for the United
States Is fixed at 2 marks and 40 pfenngs a
parcel. whatever it's weight. but a reduced rate
OF l mark aud 90 pfennigs will probably be
adopted for a Parcel not exceeding in weight
one kilogram. equivalent to . pounds 3 ounces.
The United States has parcels post conven-
lions with several countries in Central and
South America and tho West Indian Islands.
but this Is the first convention which has been
made with any country In Europe. 1t has been
q subject OF negotiation and consideration for
fourteen years. As long ago as 1895 the postal
administration OF Germany proposed such an
arrangement between the two countries, and
tho proposal was renewed from time to time
1t was always declined with n sim pie statement
that the United States was not prepared to
negotiate such a convention with any Govern
ment OF Europe.
The present proposal has been under i'm =
mediate consideration for several weeks and
was practically completed to-day in the Post
master Generals office; the Postma .er- Gem
eral and the German Minister signed both the
copies for the United States and Germany.
The law empowers tho Postmaster General to
make such conventions by and with the advice
and consent Of the President. The President
has been consulted during this negotiation and
heartily approves the arrangement. He is ex-
pected to sign the convention on his return to
the Capital.
England. France and other countries OF
Europe have sought to effect such an agree
ment with the United States. but tho conven-
ton with Germany is the first which has been
made.
An official concerned in the negotiations for
the convention said to-day:
"One may safely predict that both the
United States and Germany will profit under
the new arrangement. Already with the West
lnules, Mexico and Few countries OF South
America, the United States has a creditable
parcels-post arrangement which compares
favorably with that OF England. When it
comes. however. to dealing with Europe. the
situation is reversed. We have a sample post
but that is more tantalizing than useful to all
save few traders. Articles cannot have any
saable value. They must not exceed 81,
ounces. or in some cases II. in weight. or
be more than - inches long. 3 inches wide
and inches deep. or except in the case OF
rolls. not more than IL inches long and q
inches in diameter. Only one article Of a kind
may be sent and pair OF articles. such as
gloves or shoes is not accepted as a sample.
Articles for sale are not transmitted except
when fully prepaid at the rate of letter post
age to the country addressed regulation
practically prohibitive 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 conclusion OF
the convention 10 to be welcomed as the first
step OF system by which parcels can be trans
ported between the shores OF the United States
and Europe. Asia Africa and Australia, at
rates not outrageously disproportionate to the
cost OF heavy freightage. thereby opening an
avenue for innumerable transactions and
creating an INSTRUMENTATION more import
ant as binding peoples together than the mere
extent OF the parcels traffic itself would ndi-
cater