§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether instructions have been given to the British delegates at the Postal Union Conference in Vienna to insist upon and obtain for this country perfect freedom of action as regards the institution of Imperial Penny Postage, or of Ocean Penny Postage, between the United Kingdom and the British Colonies, without reference to the rates of postage payable on letters exchanged between the United Kingdom or the British Colonies and other countries?
§ MR. RAIKESIt would, I believe, be contrary to precedent to publish to the world the instructions given to the British delegates at Vienna while the Conference is in session; and it would certainly be highly inconvenient to our Representatives in conducting negotiations to adopt such a course. I can only say, therefore, that the question of reducing postage rates has certainly not been lost sight of in framing their Instructions.