Minister Furniss to
Secretary of State
.
American Legation,
Port au
Prince
,
February 9,
1906
.
No. 8.]
Sir: I have to inform you that agreeable to
notice to-day, published in Le Moniteur, the official paper of the
Haitian Government, commencing April 1, 1906, it is the intention of
this Government to collect postage for correspondence, etc., destined
for foreign countries, on a gold basis instead of in the fluctuating
currency as heretofore.
As shown by the notice herewith inclosed, the postal rates will be in
accord with those adopted by the Universal Postal Union Congress at
Washington in 1897, but in view of the fact that to-day gold is at a
premium of 490, the rate will be practically treble the present charges
for foreign postage, but the same rate as that charged by the United
States for like service.
The postal rates within the country will remain unaltered and stamps now
in circulation will be used for this service. The foreign rate, being
payable in gold, will necessitate a special stamp, which it is the
intention of the Government to have ready upon the inauguration of the
new rates.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Department of State for finances.
Agreeable to the provisions of article 10 of the regulations of the
Convention of the Universal Postal Union Congress, as adopted at
Washington at the session of June 15, 1897, the franc is considered
by the Republic of Haiti as the monetary unit in the transaction of
business with the countries of the union.
The department of finances notifies the public, as well as commerce,
that, dating from the 1st of April next the postage on letters and
other objects of correspondence for foreign countries, will be
collected at the post-office of the Republic in gold or silver
money, or the equivalent, according to the rate of exchange, in
national money, in conformity with the following tariff:
| Country of destination. |
Nature of correspondence. |
Tax to be collected for each piece of
correspondence. |
Terms of the
postage. |
| All of the countries of the
Postal Union. |
Ordinary letters |
5 cents of a piaster or 25
cents of a franc per 15 grams or fraction of 15
grams. |
Optional. |
|
Postal cards |
2 cents of a piaster or 10
cents of a franc |
Do. |
|
Commercial papers. |
3 cents of a piaster or 15
cents of a franc, up to 50 grams and 1 cent of a piaster
for every 50 grams over, or fraction of 50
errams. |
Obligatory. |
|
Samples of
merchandises. |
2 cents of a piaster per 50
grams or 10 cents of a franc and 1 cent of a piaster per
50 grams over, or fraction of 50 grams up to 250
grams. |
Do. |
|
Newspapers
and printed matter. |
1 cent of a
piaster or 5 cents of a franc per 50 grams or fraction
of 50 grams. |
Do. |
Note of Translator.—The piaster, as used in
the above table, is the equivalent of the American gold dollar.
[Page 895]
Unpaid letters (receipt).—Ten cents of a piaster per 15 grams or fraction of
15 grams. Request for notice of receipt: Three cents of a piaster or
15 cents of a franc.
Registration tax: Five cents of a piaster or 25 cents of a franc for
letters of all other objects of correspondence.
