F.—3.

Je regrette en consequence, Monsieur le Maitre-General dcs Postes, de ne pouvoir accueillir la proposition que vous avez bien voulu me faire par votre depeche precitee. Veuillez agreer, &c, Le Secretaire-General, Monsieur le Maitre-General dcs Postes, Wellington. .

[Translation.] I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd November last, in which you were good enough to propose to me a restricted union between New Zealand and the Congo Free State on the basis of Article 21 of the Principal Convention of Washington. The Postal Administration of the State has not up to the present concluded any agreement of the kind with any administration of the union, and the tariff of prepayment in force in our service is therefore applied uniformly to all offices with whom we maintain exchanges. I do not consider that the modification which would be introduced would be justified for the postal relations of a single country. I regret, therefore, Mr. Director-General of Posts, not being able to accept the proposals which you were kind enough to make by your aforesaid communication.

No. 13-2. The Director-General of Posts and Telegraphs, , Belgrade, Servia, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Direction Generale dcs Postes et dcs Telegraphes, Monsieur le Directeur-General, — Belgrade, le 24 Avril, 1901. Comme suite a votre lettre dv 23 Novembre, 1900, j'ai l'honneur de vous informer que j'adhere a votre proposition de faire beneficier les correspondances echangees entre nos deux Administrations et dont le poids ne depasserait pas 15 grammes, dune reduction de taxe de 10 centimes = 1 penny. • J'ai donne en consequence les instructions necessaires a mes bureaux interesses. Veuillez agreer, &c, Le Directeur-General, Kadylobstch. Monsieur le Directeur-General dcs Postes et dcs Telegraphes a Wellington.

[Translation.] With reference to your letter of the 23rd November, 1900, I have the honour to inform you that I accept your proposals to reduce the postage on letters exchanged between our two Administrations to Id. per 15 grammes. The necessary instructions have been given to my officers.

No. 133. The Director-General of Posts and Telegraphs, Montevideo, to the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral, Wellington. Direction Generale dcs Postes et dcs Telegraphes de l'Uruguay, Monsieur, — Montevideo, le 30 Avril, 1901. En reponse a votre lettre dv 23 Novembre dernier, j'ai l'honneur de vous informer que, tout en reconnaissant les avantages dcs tarifs postaux moderes, cette Direction regrette que ne soit dans ses attributions la reduction dcs tarifs de son service, sans consultation prealable dv Corps Legislatif de eette Eepublique, gui nest pas a meme, pour le moment, de s'en occuper. J'ai pris, neanmoins, bonne note de votre proposition, gui sera soumise, aussitot que possible, a l'approbation superieure. Agreez, &c, Le Directeur-General, Monsieur le Directeur-General dcs Postes, Wellington. Honore Boustan.

[Translation.] In reply to your letter of the 23rd November last, I have the honour to inform you that, while recognising the advantages of reduced postal tariffs, this Administration regrets its inability to reduce the tariffs of this service without previous consultation with the Parliament of the Eepublic, which at present is unable to occupy itself with the question. I have therefore taken note of your proposition, which will be submitted as early as possible for higher approval.

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