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No. 12. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the lion, the Postmaster-General, Washington. (Telegram.) Wellington, 25th January, 1909. Glad if you confirm report introduction penny postage United States to New Zealand. |l S js.j No. 13. The Hon. the Postmaster-General. Washington, to the Hon. the POSTMASTER-GENERAL, Wellington. (Telegram.) Washington, D.C., 26th January, 1909. Report unfounded. [P.O. 09/28.] No. 14. The lion, the POSTMASTER-GENERAL, Wellington, to the Hon. the POSTMASTER GENERAL, Washington. General Post Office, Wellington, 2nd February, 1909. Sib, — Penny Pottage. I have the honour to confirm my telegram of the 25th ultimo, and to acknowledge the receipt of Your reply of the 26th idem. I beg to thank you for your telegram, and to say that, now that the minimum letter-postage both ways between the United States of America and the United Kingdom is Id., 1 should be exceedingly glad if you could see your way to agree to the same rate from the United States to New Zealand. As you are aware, the New Zealand Government lias recently arranged to subsidise a line of steamers to make a close connection with your subsidised line at Papeete in order to improve the mail communication between our respective countries. 1 have, &c, J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Washington, D.C. [P.O. 09/28.] No. 15. The Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Post Office Department, Office of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Sir,— Division of Foreign .Mails. Washington, D.C, 16th March, 1909. Referring to your letter of the 2nd ultimo, 1 have the honour, by direction of the PostmasterGeneral, to inform you that this Department cannot consider favourably the proposal for the reduction at present of the rates of postage applicable to articles mailed in the United States addressed for delivery in New Zealand. 1 have. &r.. Josepb Stewart, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Second Assistant Postmaster-General. [P.O. 09/28.] No. 16. The Right Hon. the SECRETARY of State kiii; tiik Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. .My Lord,— Downing Street. 29th April, 1909. 1 have the honour to request tli.it you will inform your Ministers that the Secretary of State for India litis been requested by the Government of India to .secure the acceptance by the postal administrations of the Empire of letters from the British Indian post-offices situated in the French settlements in India, if stamped like letters from ordinary llritish post-ollices in India. 2. 1 have to explain that the post-ollices in question have been established in many cases for over ti century on French territory, and they are treated in India precisely like ordinary British postollices. 3. The French Government has consented to letters from the post-ollices m question being treated in the same way as letters from post-offices in British territory on condition that similar treatment is extended to letters posted in French post offices in the settlements in question. 4. His Majesty's Government have agreed, as far as the United Kingdom and Crown colonies tire concerned, to comply with the condition laid down by the French Government, to which they feel that no reasonable exception can lie taken, and letters addressed to the United Kingdom and tiny Crown colonies or protectorates will be accepted as fully stamped, if stamped in the same mai tas letters posted in British India, whether posted in the British post-offices in the French settlements or in the French post-offices there.