Mr. HORNERasked the Postmaster-General whether he can state what percentage of the mails carried by the Cunard liner "Mauretania," which ar- 829 rived at Fishguard on 6th June, was for the Continent and what percentage was for the United Kingdom, and, of the mails then landed for the United Kingdom, what percentage came to Ireland; and whether any agreement or agreements exist by which either the British Government or the Cunard Company are bound to expedite the Continental mails carried from New York by the Cunard steamers?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The total number of bags of mails brought by the "Mauretania" on the occasion in question was 1,304. Of this number, 697, or 53½ per cent., were for the Continent or other destinations beyond the United Kingdom, and 607, or 46½ per cent., were for the United Kingdom. The bags for Ireland numbered 84, constituting 6.4 per cent, of the whole mail and 13.8 per cent, of the mail for the United Kingdom. Under the Universal Postal Convention each administration which adheres to the Postal Union is bound to forward the mails belonging to other administrations by the most rapid routes at its disposal for its own mails. I am in effect bound both by the letter and by the spirit of the Convention to regard foreign mails and British mails as of equal importance, and to accord to both equal facilities, and that obligation I shall in all cases fulfil.