§ MR. MONTAGU (Tower Hamlets, Whitechapel)asked the Postmaster General, If Ms attention has been drawn to a Memorial addressed to the United States Postal Authorities by the leading bankers and merchants of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and other large cities in the United States, complaining of the loss and annoyance caused to them under the present system of mail despatches to the United States, owing to the mails from this side being frequently forwarded by steamers of a comparatively low rate of speed; and, whether he will take steps to promote the more rapid transit of mails from this country to the United States?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)My attention has been drawn to the Memorial referred to; but I may state that it is not exactly in the terms quoted by the hon. Member. After eulogizing the successful efforts made on the other side of the Atlantic to expedite the transmission of mails to Europe, it expresses regret that the Postal Administrations of "some European countries" appear not to manifest an equal interest in the prompt and speedy transmission of mails to the United States. I am not bound to accept this challenge as especially applicable to this country, particularly as the arrangements made last year for the use of the best of the Cunard and White Star steamers, as well as fast ships of other lines, seems to have given general satisfaction here. But the House will be aware that the efforts which the Post Office has made from time to time to adopt the American Transatlantic mail system have hardly received so much support in this country as would at present warrant a disturbance of the existing arrangements.