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UNITED STATES TERRITORIAL TEANSIT CHARGES. No. 85. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Peemibe. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir,— 22nd April, 1897. Eeferring to your letter of the 16th February last [see No. 50, P.-6, 1897], I beg to transmit copy of letter received from the Imperial Post Office in reply to my letter (copy enclosed) asking that support be given to the delegate for Australasia at the Postal Union Congress at Washington in his endeavours to obtain a reduction in the territorial transit charges now levied by the CJnited States Post Office on the colonial mails. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

Enclosure 1 in No. 85. The Agent-Genebal to the Seoeetaey, General Post Office, London. Sic,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 7th April, 1897. I have received information from my Government that the delegate for Australasia at the Washington Postal Union Congress will bring forward the question of the high territorial transit charges now levied by the United States Post Office on the colonial mails, and will endeavour to arrange for a substantial reduction in the rates which have been hitherto charged ; and, in reference thereto, I have been instructed to request that the representatives at the Congress of the Imperial Post Office will support, so far as possible, the Australasian delegate in endeavouring to obtain a favourable result. I take the opportunity of attaching a statement showing the Postal Union territorial rates compared with the American territorial rates, which clearly shows how very excessive the latter are. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, E.C. W. P. Reeves.

Sub-enclosure to Enclosure 1 in No. 85. Statement showing the Postal Union Territorial Rates compared with the American Territorial Rates, and the Difference between them.

Enclosure 2 in No. 85. The Secbetaby, General Post Office, London, to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— General Post Office, London, 21st April, 1897. . I have laid before the Postmaster-General your letter of the 7th instant, in which you request, on behalf of the Government of New Zealand, that the British delegates to the Postal Union Congress of Washington may be instructed to support, as far as possible, the efforts which are to be made by the Australasian delegate to procure a reduction in the rates charged by the United States Post Office for the conveyance of New Zealand mails across the American Continent. His Grace directs me to inform you in reply that the British delegates will be instructed to co-operate, as far as practicable, with their Australasian colleague in any negotiation which he may conduct with the United States Post Office on this subject; but lam to point out that the whole question of mail transit across the States, and not merely the transit of New Zealand mails, is involved, and that the land-service in question being one of the " extraordinary services " which are expressly excluded (under Article IV., paragraph 3, of the Convention of Vienna) from the scope of the convention, it may not be possible to bring the matter before the Congress. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. S. Walpole.

No. 86. The Hon. the Pbemieb to the Agent-Geneeal. Sic,— Premier's Office, Bth June, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd April last, transmitting copy of your communication to the Imperial Post Office, and of the reply thereto, asking that support be given to the delegate for Australasia at the Postal Union Congress at Washington in his endeavours to obtain a reduction in the territorial transit charges levied by the United States Post Office on colonial mails.

Glass of Correspondence. Union Territorial Transit Bates. j American Territorial Transit Bates. I Difference. letters •ther articles ... ... 8-64d. per pound ... l-08d. I ... 27*5d. per pound ... 8-5d. ... 18-86d. per pound. ... 7-42d.