§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIGasked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that small pattern or sample parcels and newspapers are regularly sent from Japan to this country by the Siberian route; whether these parcels and newspapers are carried at the Id. for four ounces rate or at the higher rate; and, if at the lower rate, will he explain why this country cannot obtain the same postal facilities by the Siberian route as the Japanese appear to have obtained?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELSamples and printed papers prepaid at the reduced rates are accepted by the Japanese Post Office for transmission by the Siberian route, but not by European post offices (except Russia). I regret that, in the circumstances which I explained in my reply to the hon. Member's question of the 21st ultimo, I am unable at present to provide for sending such articles by this route.