Office of the Historian

No. 203.
Mr. Evarts to Mr. Dichman.

Department of State,
Washington, December 9, 1879.
No. 83.]

Sir: I transmit herewith a copy of a letter dated the 3d instant, addressed to this Department by the Postmaster-General in relation to [Page 322] the excessive tariff of postal charges in the Republic of the United States of Colombia on correspondence for the United States, the subject of which was brought to the notice of this Department by the commercial agent of the United States at Medellin in October last. It appears from it that all that is needed to establish uniform cheap rates of postage between that republic and this country is the adhesion of Colombia to the Universal Postal Convention, concluded at Paris on the 1st of June, 1878, and that this adhesion maybe effected on the simple demand of the Government of Colombia, with notice thereof through the diplomatic channel to the Government of the Swiss Confederation, and by that government to all countries of the Union.

In accordance with the suggestion of the Postmaster-General, you will bring the matter to the attention of the Colombian Government, and urge upon it the importance of adhesion to the convention of Paris, as a measure not only of postal reform but of great commercial advantage.

I am, &c.,

WM. M. EVARTS.
[Inclosure in No. 83.]

Mr. Key to Mr. Evarts.

Post-Office Department,
Washington, December 3, 1879.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th ultimo, transmitting a copy of dispatch, No. 8, dated the 4th of October last, from the United States commercial agent at Medellin, United States of Colombia, in relation to the excessive tariff of postage charges in that republic on correspondence for the United States.

I would state, in reply, that the adhesion of the United States of Colombia to the Universal Postal Union Convention, concluded at Paris on the 1st of June, 1878, is all that is needed to establish uniform cheap rates of postage, not only between that republic and the United States, but with all countries of the Postal Union; and that this adhesion may be effected on the simple demand of the Government of Colombia, with notice thereof through, the diplomatic channel to the Government of the Swiss Confederation, and by that government to all the countries of the Union.

The United States of Venezuela has recently declared, diplomatically, its adhesion to the Universal Postal Union from the 1st of January next. Honduras was admitted from the 1st of October last; Brazil, the Argentine Republic, Peru, and Salvador were parties to the Paris convention, and entered the Union on the 1st of April, 1879, and the earnest desire of this Department, in common with all other Postal Union administrations, is, that the United States of Colombia and other Central and South American countries which have not yet adhered to the Universal Postal Union formed by the convention of Paris should do so as soon as practicable.

I would respectfully suggest in this connection that our minister to the United States of Colombia might properly be instructed to urge upon the government of that republic the importance of adhesion to the convention of Paris, as a measure not only of postal reform but of great commercial advantage.

I am, &c.,

D. M. KEY,
Postmaster-General.