Evening star., 1923-04-29
u. S. PARCEL POST HELPS
DEVELOP TRADE ABROAD
System Increasing in Use and Statistics
on Value of Matter Exported Would
Raise Trade Balance.

goods exported through the mails
from the United States. Depart
ment of Commerce official recently
quoted figures on exports in special
ties, but declared he was unable to
give anything definite on razor blades
for he had no idea how many had
been sent through the parcel post
The Department of Commerce and the
Post Office Department are now work
Ing together to arrange a systematic
check on the value of mail exports.
No Agreement with Cuba.
One of the peculiar instances of the
need existing for conventions similar
to the ones now existing between the
United States and the majority of
Latin American countries Is shown In
the present antiquated agreement be
tween this country and Cuba The
manufacturer in the United States
cannot send a package to Cuba which
weighs more than four pounds six
ounces. Although Cuba lies within
easy flying distance of the United
States, and while the United States
has built up tremendous trade with
her in commodities most easily car
ried through the mails. an arrange
ment which would raise the weight
limit on goods exchanged between thu
two countries through the parcel post
is hopelessly deadlocked The expla
nation lies in a provision in the tariff
laws which. prohibits imports OF
cigars. cigarettes and cheroots into
the United States in packages less
than 5000 The clause is, of course.
put there as protection for the cigar
and cigarette manufacturers in the
United States. who would howl with
dismay if Cuba began sending neat
h1eS
United States through the parcel post
Cuba Unwilling to Listen.
Every time manufacturer in the
United States comes to the Post Office
Department and asks why, in the
name of common sense, he must send
pair of shoes in two packages to 4
big-footed customer in Cuba, when
these shoes. by raising the weight
limit, might just as easily so through
the mails in one package. the Post
Office Department sighs sympathet-
ically and refers the saddened manu-
/ facturer to the men who make the
tariff laws. For Cuba, knowing TIM
advantage of the parcel post &c
i American manufacturers, turns a deaf
and needless ear to the overtureS OF
| the Post Office Department for an
agreement-until the tariff laws are
| revised again. Cuba remains the only
country on the globe which refuses
| to cooperate with the United States
| in raising the weight limit and other
| wise expediting the delivery of par
eel post mail And Cuba's position is
| justified, in the opinion of many, be-
cause of the virtual embargo against
| sending her chief product through the
mails into this country.
! Specialize on Latin America.
| While the parcel post system covers
the world, the United States Post Of
| flee Department is joining hands with
| other far sighted agencies and con
centrating on improving the mail and
(; parcel post services with the Latin
American countries. Latin America is
! the natural field for the United States
| in developing its trade, and the parcel
post is an important factor in this de-
| velopment. Postal conferences hello
in the past have done much towarc
cementing relations between the
Americas The desire at these confer
ences has been to serve the public In
terest and the conferees have there
fore been able to work in close amfty
The postal officials of all lands re-
gard themselves as public servants
and their methods, their attitude and
the results of their laborS all work
for broader spirit of friendship anc
Incorporation.