Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1875, Volume II

No. 648.
Mr. Beardsley to Mr. Fish.

Agency and Consulate-General of the United States in Egypt,
Cairo, February 4, 1875. (Received March 5.)

No. 273.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a translation of a communication from the minister of foreign affairs in regard to certain measures proposed to be taken by the Egyptian government with the view of unifying the postal service in Egypt preparatory to the application of the terms and provisions of the postal treaty at Berne, the Egyptian government having participated in the postal convention at Berne and given its adhesion to the treaty.

Foreign post-offices were established in Egypt many years ago to meet the wants of the different foreign colonies residing in Egypt, and at a time when there was, practically, no local postal service. They were a necessity of the times, each foreign colony depending upon its own national postal service lor its mail facilities. Wherever a European colony of any considerable numbers sprung up there was established a foreign post-office, entirely independent of the Egyptian government. Thus, at Alexandria there were the English, French, Italian, Russian, Greek, and Austrian post-offices, each monopolizing the postal business between Egypt and its own country in Europe, The greater number of these offices still exist at Alexandria, but Egypt, for several years, has maintained an excellent postal system herself, which she continues to perfect and develop, and which has so ameliorated the situation that the necessity for foreign offices at Alexandria no longer exists.

The foreign post-offices, however, still exist, and they continue to receive and distribute all mail-matter arriving from Europe, notwithstanding the fact that the same work could be better and more expeditiously performed by the Egyptian post-office.

The inconvenience of this multiplicity of post-offices is at once apparent. Letters arriving by the English mail must be inquired for at the English post-office, those arriving by the French mail at the French I post-office, and so on. If not inquired for, they are not delivered, so that travelers or strangers in the country often fail to receive their letters, simply because they do not apply at the proper post-office.

In former years there were four or five foreign post-offices at Cairo, but they have all been withdrawn within the last few years except the French office, which will be withdrawn this year.

The Egyptian government now desires, as you will perceive by the inclosed circular, to take under its own care the entire postal service of Egypt, and it hopes to induce the foreign powers to withdraw their post-offices now on Egyptian territory. The government asserts, and certainly with much truth, that the monopoly of the postal service within its own territory is necessary to enable it to comply with the provisions of the treaty of Berne. In considering the Egyptian government’s desire, the foreign powers who have post-offices in Egypt will naturally inquire whether the present postal system meets the wants of the country and the demands of commerce, and whether it is prepared to take the place of the foreign post-offices now in operation. I think these questions may be answered in the affirmative. The postal system of Egypt, although not perfect, is well and thoroughly organized. It works smoothly and with precision, and seems to answer all the requirements of the age. Its offices are commodious and well distributed, and conveniently located. At Cairo a fine and substantial building was completed last year, by the’ government, for the post-office, where it is now installed. The Egyptian postal system is indebted, in a great measure, to Muzzi Bey, an Italian, for its present development and satisfactory condition. Muzzi Bey has devoted many years to its organization and development, and he cannot regard its present condition otherwise than with pride and satisfaction.

It is believed that the Egyptian government will experience no serious difficulty in its efforts to obtain the withdrawal of the foreign post-offices and its resumption of a right which in theory can hardly be contested.

I am, &c.,

R. BEARDSLEY.

[Inclosure 1 in No. 272—Translation.]

The minister of foreign affairs to Mr. Beardsley.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Cairo, January 6, 1875.

circular.

Monsieur Agent and Consul-General: You are aware of the treaty which was lately concluded at the international congress at Berne, with the object of simplifying and unifying the postal service over a vast extent of territory, under the designation of the general postal union.

The treaty is to go into effect the 1st of July, 1875.

The government of His Highness the Khedive, invited to participate in the congress, hastened to respond to the invitation, which was the most honorable testimony in favor of the efforts and sacrifices which it has never ceased to make to organize the postal system of Egypt, and adapt it to the wants born from the development, each day more marked, of its amicable relations with other countries.

Convinced of the eminent utility and civilizing effects of the work of the congress, which must unite by a common link so many different countries, it gave its adhesion, without reserve, to the conclusion of the treaty, and consequently to the obligations which go with it.

The first of these obligations for each of the contracting countries is naturally to contribute all in its power to the complete realization of the idea of simplification and unification which constitutes the principal base, the essential condition of the treaty. This obligation the government of His Highness would not be able to fulfill if it did not take measures from the present moment to secure postal unification within its own territories. Occupied at different points by foreign post-offices, which were established at a time when the situation was entirely different, this territory finds itself divided into as many different postal jurisdictions as offices.

The continuation of such a condition of things is evidently inconsistent with the idea of unification, the fundamental idea of the treaty, the application of which would meet with permanent resistance and an obstacle in these different postal jurisdictions.

The government of His Highness, in a spirit of conciliation towards friendly governments, has permitted these to exist, without, however, implying by this tolerance, the abandonment of its rights. To-day it finds itself, led by the treaty of Berne as well as by the situation, which is profoundly modified, to resume the exercise of this right in its integrity, without, however, desiring in any manner to interfere with the transit of the mails through Egypt.

Postal monopoly being the incontestable, privilege of every government, His Highness, the Khedive, hopes. Mr. agent and consul-general, that the Government of the United States, with that high sense of right and justice which habitually guides it, will recognize that the Egyptian government in expressing its intention to avail itself of the position which is legitimately due to it, is guided only by the desire of placing itself in a better position to carry out the objects of the general postal union.

Accept, M. agent and consul-general, the expression of my high consideration.

RIAZ.