§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONI beg to ask the Postmaster General whether, as the Australian Colonies are not in the Postal Union, ocean penny postage could be established to Australia without interfering with the Postal Union; whether, under the Postal Union regulations, any two Powers signing it may make a special arrangement concerning themselves only; whether there is a special clause in the said regulations which would enable England to establish ocean penny postage with the United States, by and with the consent of the United States Government; and whether Great Britain could withdraw, if necessary, from the Postal Union by giving six months' notice.
§ * MR. RAIKESAs the Australian Colonies are not in the Postal Union it would presumably be within the competence of Her Majesty's Government to establish a penny postage to Australia without interfering with the Postal Union. It is not likely that any Government in this country would take such a 996 step without duo consideration of the wishes and interests of the Australian Colonies. Under the Postal Union regulations no two Powers, parties to the convention, could make special arrangements concerning themselves only, at variance with the fundamental principles of the Union. The only latitude allowed is to neighbouring countries, which, within a radius of 30 kilometers, are permitted to come to mutual arrangements for the adoption of lower rates of postage. There is no special clause in the convention which would enable this country to establish ocean penny postage with the United States with the consent of the United States Government. Great Britain could certainly withdraw from the Postal Union by giving a notice of 12 months, if Her Majesty's Government thought it wise to incur the risk of cutting off its postal arrangements with the rest of the civilised world.