The Belgian King and the President of the French Republic yesterday had a
conversation through the wires. I transmit herewith a copy of the convention
and a translation of the same.
[Inclosure in No.
198.—Translation.]
Convention concerning the establishment of a service
of telephonic correspondence between Brussels and Paris.
His Majesty the King of the Belgians and the President of the French
Republic, desiring to establish a telephonic communication between
Brussels and Paris, and making use of the privilege accorded to them by
Article 17 of the international telegraphic convention, signed the 22d
of July, 1875, at St. Petersburg, have resolved
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to conclude a special convention to this effect,
and have named for their plenipotentiaries, to wit:
His Majesty the King of the Belgians, Prince de Chimay, officer of the
Order of Leopold, chevalier of the Order of the Legion of Honor, etc.,
member of the Chamber of Representatives, his minister of foreign
affairs; and Mr. Jules Vanden Peereboom, chevalier of his Order of
Leopold, etc., member of the Chamber of Representatives, his minister
for railways, posts, and telegraphs; and the President of the French
Republic, Mr. Granet, chevalier of the Order of the Legion of Honor,
etc., etc., etc. member of the Chamber of Deputies, minister of posts
and telegraphs, and Mr. Bourse, officer of the Order of the Legion of
Honor, etc, etc., etc., envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
of the French Republic near His Majesty the King of the Belgians; who,
after having communicated their full powers, found to be in good and due
form, have agreed upon the following articles:
Article 1.
A service of telephonic correspondence will be established and worked
between Brussels and Paris by the administration of posts and telegraphs
of the two countries.
Article 2.
There will be made use of for this purpose copper or bronze wires of high
conductibility, having at least three millimeters of diameter, and being
placed in a manner to avoid in the greatest possible measure the effects
of induction.
Each one of the two administrations will have performed on its own
territory the work of placing the wires and will assure their repair,
each at its own expense.
Article 3.
The administrations will remain free either to use only for telephonic
service the circuits specified in Article 2, or to employ these circuits
simultaneously for telegraphic service and telephonic service on the
whole or on a part of their line. Nevertheless if experience
demonstrates that the telegraphic use of the wires is prejudicial to the
regular working of the, telephonic service these conductors will be
exclusively reserved to this service.
Article 4.
At Brussels and at Paris the telephonic circuits will terminate at a
central office.
There will be established sounding boxes, where the public may be
admitted to correspond.
The two administrations will take besides, as far as possible, the
necessary measures in order that private establishments, and especially
the subscribers of the systems of Brussels and Paris, may be enabled to
correspond among themselves through the means of the international line
by the intermediary of the central offices.
Article 5.
The operation of the telephone between Brussels and Paris will be assured
by the agents of the two administrations, each on its own territory, or
by other agents agreed to by them.
Article 6.
The standard adopted as well for the collection of tolls as for the
duration of the Communications is a conversation of five minutes.
The employment of the telephone is to be regulated according to the order
of demands. There can not be accorded between the same correspondents
more than two consecutive conversations of five minutes each, except
when there is no other demand before or during the duration of these two
conversations.
Article 7.
The toll for five minutes’ conversation is temporarily fixed at 3
francs.
The products will be divided between Belgium and France in the proportion
fixed for the division of telegraphic tolls by arrangement concluded
between the two countries July 22, 1836.
The toll is paid by the person who asks the communication. Each
administration will keep account of the tolls and will exercise the
method of collecting them which it deems most convenient.
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Article 8.
The telephonic service Brussels-Paris will he opened to the public in a
permanent manner day and night.
Article 9.
The two administrations will decree in concert the rule of service which
should be applied.
Article 10.
Each of the two contracting parties reserves to itself the right to
suspend totally or partially the telephonic service for reasons of
public order, without being held to any indemnity.
Article 11.
The two administrations are not subject to any liability by reason of the
service of private correspondence in telephonic way.
Article 12.
The present convention will be put in execution at the date which shall
be fixed by common accord between the administrations of the two
countries; it will remain in vigor for three months after notice to
terminate it, which may always be done by either of the contracting
parties.
In faith of which the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the
present convention, which they have witnessed with their seals.
Made in duplicate at
Brussels
December 1st,
1886.
[
l. s.] The
Prince de Chimay.
[
l.
s.]
Vanden
Peereboom.
[
l. s.]
Granet.
[
l. s.]
Bourée.
Certified by the secretary-general of the ministry of foreign
affairs,
