[Inclosure.]
Mr. Tyner to Mr.
Evarts.
Post-Office Department,
Washington, D. C., May 28, 1877.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 23d instant, transmitting a copy of
dispatch No. 615, of the 25th ultimo, and of the correspondence which
accompanied it, from Mr. Williamson, United States minister to the
Central American States, relative to certain postal regulations issued
by the government of Guatemala, which are in conflict with the
provisions of our postal convention with that country, and which Mr.
Williamson states he has assurances will be corrected.
With reference to the suggestion therein made, that a new postal
convention be concluded for the purpose of reducing the postage-rates
between the two countries, I have the honor to state that since the
conclusion of the general postal union treaty, signed at Berne the 9th
of October, 1874, it has not been considered expedient to enter into new
separate postal arrangements with neighboring countries, but rather to
advise all such countries to apply for admission into the postal union,
which now embraces all of Europe, Egypt, Turkey in Asia, Russia in Asia,
British India, the British, French, Netherland, and Spanish colonies.
The Empire of Japan is admitted into the union from June 1, 1877, and
Brazil and the Portuguese colonies from July 1, 1877. Greenland and the
Danish colonies have applied for admission from July 1, 1877, and the
Argentine Republic from September 1, 1877.
I inclose herewith, for transmission to Mr. Williamson, a copy of the
general postal union treaty and detailed regulations there under; also,
copy of the arrangement concluded at Berne on 27th January, 1876, for
the admission of British India and the French colonies into the union
under special provisions; which provisions have been made to apply to
all the countries and colonies since admitted into the general postal
union.
Article XVII of the treaty prescribes the conditions on which the entry
into the union of countries beyond sea can be effected upon application
to the international postal bureau at Berne.
I am, &c.,
JAS. N. TYNER,
Acting
Postmaster-General.
