§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, seeing that both in France and in England the inland charge for telegrams does not exceed½ d. per word, he 342 will open negotiations with the French Government for the exchange of telegraphic messages between the two countries at the rate of 1d. per word, that being the sum of the two inland rates?
§ MR. HANBURYThe question of the charges for foreign telegrams will come under consideration when the International Telegraph Conference meets this year in Budapest, but the Postmaster General can hold out no hope that the charge to France will be reduced to 1d. per word. The question of some reduction in the existing charge is under consideration.