The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-21

Washington, D. O., Nov. 2l,- Christmas packages to friends and relatives in European countries and England will have a perilous and probably circuitous journey in i94l and they must be given an especial ly early start to reach their destina- tion in time for the holiday sea- son, Immediate dispatch of such packages Is imperative.
 In preparing a package for ship ment abroad, the first essential Is to see that 1t Is properly packed for mailing with due regard to the nature Of It's contents and climatec conditions, the length of the jour- ney, and tho many handlings and hard knocks that 1t is likely to get, Ordinary pasteboard containers are entirely inadequate and will be re- jected by the post office clerk when the package Is presented for nlail- Ing, Parcels should be packed in canvas or similar material; heavy wrapping paper; or waterproof pa- per lined with linengauze; double faced, corrugated boxes; or strong wooden boxes made of material at least one-half inch think. Fragile, breakable articles should be well protected by excelsior or similar material, and should be packed in sturdy wooden boxes, or In double- faced corrugated cardboard boxes enclosed in strong wooden crates.
 At present, the. only European countries for which the United States post ofIlce are accepting par cel-post packages are the United Kingdom, Fire (Ireland), Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. Parcels for the latter three countries are ac- cepted for delivery only as far as Lisbon, with the responsibility be- yond that point resting on the for eign postal authorities, and safe arrival subject to the uncertainties and hazards of war conditions.
 Latter Packages
 Articles may be forwarded, how ever. to many of the areas to which regular parcel post service Is cut of either as letter packages" weigh ing up to four pounds. eight ounces prepaid at the letter rate of postage or in small packets weighing up to two pounds, three ounces, at a spe- cial rate of postage. For dutiable arr ticles, a green label must be affixed to each letter package or small packet showing that the articles are to be turned over to customs offi- cials for examination when they reach their destination. A customs declaration or invoice must be en- closed. "Mailcerts" should be ob- tianed from the nearest British con- sulateand afiixed to the outside of letter packages and small packets addressed to Fire (Ireland), Fin land, French West Africa, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Madagascar, Morocco, Portugal, Portuguese Guinea, Portu- gueSe and Spanish Atlantic Islands, Reunion, Spain, Sweden, Switzer- land and Turkey. If unaccompanied by valid mailcerts, packages sent to the above countries will be liable to detention in passage through Brit ish control stations.
 As a rule, gift packages sent to foreign countries are subject to the same customs regulations and rates of import duties in those countries as commercial shipments on the same articles. Tn a few countries, the customs officials are lenient about collecting duty on small pack ages which are distinctly marked as gifts. For this reason, a Christ mas package skould be clearly la beled, christmas Gifts = Not for Eale." Used clothing sent to indi- gent persons is exempt from duty in some European countries. Tn most countries, the customs duties an articles suitable for gifts, such as fine textiles, jewelry. tobacco pro- ducts, and similar things, should be expected to amount to at least one- third to one-half the value of the contents of the package. It is not advisable to place an exaggerated value on the package. because the foregin customs officials may accept the statement as the true value and charge the recipient Of the gifts more duty than necessary. Import duties imposed by foreign countries cannot be prepaid by the sender of the package in the United States unless arrangements are made with a forwarding or express company to deliver the package abroad and bill the sender for the costs. plus its service fee.