Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1888, Part I

No. 502.
Mr. Phelps to Mr. Bayard.

Legation of the United States,
Washington, January 4, 1888. (Received January 17.)

No. 651.]

Sir: Referring to your instructions numbered 730 of the 18th November, 1887,^* I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a note received from the foreign office in reply to one which I addressed to Lord Salisbury in accordance with the instructions above referred to.

I have, etc.,

E. J. Phelps.

[Inclosure in No. 651.]

Sir T. V. Lister to Mr. Phelps.

Foreign Office, January 2, 1888.

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that Her Majesty’s postmaster general has had under his consideration the representation to the United States Postmaster-General, a copy of which was inclosed in your note of the 7th ultimo, respecting the postal communication from Europe to the United States.

In reply to your above-mentioned note, I beg leave to assure you that the influentially signed expression of opinion inclosed therein will not be lost sight of when an opportunity occurs for reconsidering the arrangements now in force for the conveyance of the mails from this country to New York; but, as you are doubtless aware, the efforts which Her Majesty’s postmaster-general has from time to time made to adopt the American transatlantic system have not received so much support in this country as would at present warrant a disturbance of existing arrangements.

I have, etc.,

T. V. Lister.

(For the Marquis of Salisbury.)

1. Printed in Foreign Relations, 1887, pp. 489–495.