§ Mr. E. C. GRENFELLasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, under the Hispano-American Postal Convention, postal rates between various South American countries and the United States are appreciably less than the corresponding rates between those countries and Great Britain; that these rates have stimulated correspondence between the United States and South America and the circulation in South America of printed matter, periodicals, etc., of United States origin; that Germany, France and Belgium have recognised the propagandist value of similar facilities and have taken advantage of Article 34 (1) of the Universal Postal Convention to reduce by 50 per cent. the printed paper rate on newspapers and periodicals posted directly by the pub- 638W lishers to South America; and whether His Majesty's Government will take some action of this kind in order to assist British trade?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHI am aware of the facts to which the hon. Member draws attention. The question of participation in this optional arrangement for granting a reduction of postage in favour of newspapers and periodicals posted directly by the publishers has been carefully considered on more than one occasion. The application of the reduced rate would, however, involve appreciably lower charges on newspapers, etc., despatched to distant foreign countries than on newspapers in the Inland Service, which are already unremunerative. The adoption of Article 34 (1) of the Postal Union Convention would also necessitate the application of the cheap rate not only to those countries in South America, which have adopted it, but to all the countries in the Union in which it is in force.