Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-17
NEW TREATY SIGNED
PARCELS POST AGREEMENT WITH
GREAT BRITAIN.
Document Brought From Abroad and
Taken to Today's Meeting
Of the Cabinet,

w s. Shallenberger. second assistant
| postmaster general. and ]. Z. Masten have
| returned to Washington after an absence
| of several weeks in England and France,
where they went by direction of the POST
| master General to consult the postal adj
| mfnistrations OF those countries regarding
parcels post treaties with the United States.
| Their trip was successful treaties being
| prepared with both Great Britain and
France, the first named of which was
| signed today and becomes effective
April l. Postmaster General Wynne to-
day took with him to the meeting Of the
| cabinet the propositions submitted by tho
| countries Interested and Mr.. Shalenberger
Wasin consultation with the committees on
| postal affairs at the Capitol
Secretary Hay and Postmaster General
Wynne remained with the President after
the meeting to take up the treaties The
negotiations have been in progress for sew
eral years. Heretofore the rate on parcels
by post to Great Britain has been pro.
hibitive. No parcel could be sent, in fact,
for less than letter postage-five cents per
half ounce. BY the new convention the rate
on parcels to Great Britain is twelve cents
a pound or fraction thereof, the same rate
that prevails between this country and the
countries of Belgium, Germany and Nor-
way. The maximum limit of weight of par
GELS. according to the convention, Is four
pounds and six ounces
The convention with Great Britain was
signed by the President Secretary Hay and
Postmaster General Wynne. 1t already had
been signed by Lord Stanley on behalf Of
the British government. 1t will be effective
Immediately.
There now existent parcels-p post trea-
ties between the United States and Ger.
many with which country We have been
operating for five years; Belgium, Norway.
Hong Kong, Newfoundland, Japan and
one or two other countries Australia,
Canada and other possessions of Great
Britain have distinct postal administrations
of their own, which makes 1t necessary for
the United States to treat with each Sepa.
rately whenever there are matters of this
sort in view. There is no treaty with Cam
ada.
By the work of negotiating with England
and France for treaties the Post Office De-
partment feels that the trip Of the second
assistant was we'll taken A sea post office
service will be also begun with England,
but probably not with France. the latter
country not feeling that this would be Of
especial benefit to her interests. With
England the greatest business of all our
international postal trade will be done,
Germany taking a second place, when the
new convention goes into operation.
The treaty with France is still under con-
sideration by the Postmaster General, but
1t Is thought 1t may be signed at early
date.
On the trip across the Atlantic on the
New York of the American line Mr.. Shall
lenberger inspected the engine ROOM and,
in passing some of the machinery, slipped
and injured his leg. For a time he feared
that blood poisoning might result, the sf-
fected member growing worse and failing to
respond to treatment. Upon arriving In
Washington he consulted his regular ply.
sician and some improvement has since
been noticed.