§ MR. ARTHUR LEE (Hampshire, Fareham)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether his attention has been called to the last Report of the United States Postmaster General, in which he recommends that the letter rate of postage between the United States and this country should be reduced; and, in view of the reply given to the hon. Member for South Hampshire, on 13th December, 1900, to the effect that His Majesty's Government had already proposed to the United States Government that a lower rate of postage should be established between the two countries, but that the United States Government was not then prepared to entertain the suggestion,t whether His Majesty's Government is now prepared to re-open negotiations with the United States Government on the subject.
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN)Worcestershire, 262 E.): Yes, Sir, I have seen the last Report of the Postmaster General of the United States of America, in which he recommends that negotiations be undertaken with Great Britain, Germany, and France, for the purpose of modifying the rates of postage. His Majesty's Government have not as yet received any proposals on the subject from the United States, but if such proposals are made they will receive our most careful consideration.