§ MR. THOMAS DEWARI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that the present rate of postage on letters from the United Kingdom to the Continent, namely, 2½d. per half ounce, exceeds the foreign postage rate in force in any other country, and, in view of the fact that in order to place the British service on an equal footing with that of other nations the rate should be reduced from 2½d. to 2d. per half ounce, will efforts be made to induce the Postal Union to assent to this reduction; and will he state when and where the next meeting of the union will take place.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThere are several countries in the Postal Union (some even in Europe) in which the foreign postage rate on letters exceeds 2½d. per half ounce. The rate fixed by convention for letters passing between European countries is 25 centimes per 15 grammes, or its virtual equivalent in local currency; and the nearest British equivalent, 2½d. per half ounce, is slightly higher than that sum. As the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Budget speech in 1897, the Government desired to reduce generally to 2d. per half ounce the letter postage from this country to places abroad. But for this change the consent of the Postal Union is necessary; and, though every effort was made by the British delegates to the Postal Union Congress held at Washington in the summer of 1897 to obtain that consent, it was refused. It cannot be stated at present whether the attempt will be renewed. The next Congress of the Postal Union is appointed to be held. at Rome, early in the year 1904.