F.—3.

By my communication of the 11th January, 1901, which replied to yours of the 23rd November, 1900, I declared myself agreeable to deliver until further order to addressees without surcharge, on condition that they bore no mark designating them as insufficiently prepaid, letters from New Zealand addressed to Switzerland prepaid at Id. per 15 grammes (half-ounce). In the name of the Government of His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and British possessions, the English Legation in Switzerland requested the Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation on the 25th June last to kindly ratify this agreement. After having fully examined this question the Swiss Government has arrived at the conclusion that, owing to the position taken up by the postal administrations of neighbouring countries, as well as not to anticipate the future, it would be best not to continue the concession made by the Administration of the Swiss Posts. Therefore it has been decided to revert to the state of affairs existing before Ist January, 1901, in respect of the charge on letters from New Zealand addressed to Switzerland. In order not to prejudice senders or addressees, the reduced charge of Id. per 15 grammes (half-ounce) will therefore still be considered as valid for letters from New Zealand which may be posted up to 30th September, 1902, inclusively. After that date the Administration of Swiss Posts will on its part charge all letters coming from your country which are not prepaid at the tariff fixed by the Universal Postal Convention at Washington on the 15th June, J 897. In notifying you of the preceding decisions, I beg of you to kindly give the necessary instructions to branches of your service and to acknowledge receipt of this letter.

No. 188. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Director-General of Swiss Posts, Berne. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd October, 1902. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th July last, advising that after the 30th ultimo the special arrangement between our Administrations for the delivery without surcharge of letters from New Zealand addressed to your country prepaid at the rate of Id. per half-ounce would be terminated, as the Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation had not ratified the agreement. The Postmaster-General of this colony has learned with much regret the determination of your office not to accept our penny letters in future, but he hopes to be allowed to take an early opportunity of reopening the question. In the meantime notice have been given to our offices that the postage charge in force before the Ist January, 1901, will again be applicable. Public notice has also been given. I have, &c, The Director-General of Swiss Posts, Berne. W. Gbay, Secretary.

No. 189. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Director-General of Posts, Lima. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 12th January, 1903. On the 23rd November, 1900, I had the honour to write to you (copy of letter attached) proposing a reduction to Id. per half-ounce in the charge for the transmission of letters between our respective countries, in reply to which you were good enough to inform me on the 31st January, 1901 (copy of letter herewith), that you could not agree to the despatch of penny letters from Peru to New Zealand, but that you would accept our penny letters without surcharge. I also enclose copy of my letter of the 10th April, 1901. I now learn from a communication from the British Embassy at Lima that your office is unable to trace the agreement contained in the letters referred to. It is suggested that time would be saved if your Administration would again give its formal consent to deliver without surcharge letters from New Zealand prepaid at the rate of Id. per half-ounce. I have, &c, W. Gray, The Director-General of Posts, Lima, Peru. For Postmaster-General.

Approximate Cost of Paper,— Preparation, not given; printing (1,425 copies), £39.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o3.

Price Is. 3d.

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