§ MR. BAXTERsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, What is the present position of the negotiations between Her Majesty's Government and that of the United States on the subject of a new Postal Convention; and, whether the Government, in making new Contracts for the Conveyance of the Mails, intend to place all the Companies on the same footing as to terms of payment and conditions of service, carrying out the declaration of Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 20th of March, "that the present arrangement was faulty, because it was wrong that the Companies carrying Mails to America should be under different terms with the Government?"
§ MR. SCLATER-BOOTHsaid, in reply, that the negotiations between Her Majesty's Government and that of the United States had been somewhat delayed by the state of business in Washington at the time the officer from this country arrived there. The matter was, however, still pending; and during the negotiations it would not be desirable that he should make any statement on the subject. In reply to the second Question of the hon. Gentleman, he had to state that it was the intention of the Government in making new contracts for the conveyance of the Mails to place all the companies on the same footing as to terms of payment and conditions of service.