Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 16.djvu/953

 POSTAL CONVENTION WITH BELGIUM. JULY 31, 1863. 919 documentary papers, corrected proofs, samples of merchandise, newspapers, and all kinds of prints, shall be limited in each dimension to 50 centimeters. The two departments reserve the right to reduce Dimensions this dimension it, by their magnitude, such packages shall embarrass the l'§°g:° "°d“°°d· service. ’ ' Amictm VI. All mailable articles except letters shall be sent under A"Ql°l°’ °" band, or so enclosed that the postal agents in both countries may readily :3: ,$§°;°,i°t°b° verify the contents of the packet. bands. Anrrcmz VII. The standard weight and progression for the single W°iSl!i wd rate of postage upon all articles enumerated in Article IV. of this con-  gg vention are established as follows : — postage. 1. For letters, 15 grammes. Letters, &c· 2. For documentary manuscripts not,having the character of a direct personal correspondence, for corrected proofs, and for samples of merchandise, 40 grammes. 3. For newspapers and prints of all kinds, embracing all mailable N°W¤P¤P°¥¤» articles, not otherwise assigned, the standard shall not be less than 40 &°’ grammes in Belgium, or one ounce and a half in the United States; but _ each Post Department may establish a higher standard weight of pro- m_g‘gl‘°’ °“‘“d' gression, adapted to its interior requirements, for articles of this class ' which it despatches. to be comme,. The standard which it shall adopt, and any subsequent changes therein niested before shall be communicated to the other department before they take eH`ect. §,‘};‘;§_‘“*" Anricms VIII. The prepayment of postage upon ordinary letters ex- Prepayment changed between the United States and Belgium shall be optional; but {tf P°S*¤s¤{ °:d_ letters not prepaid or insufficiently prepaid shall be charged in the coun- °t°°" °P°`° ' try of destination, by way of penalty, with an extra fixed rate of 5 cents P,‘Q§t’é,“cf‘];QQ;‘[s, in the United States, and of 30 centimes in Belgium, irrespective of ’ l weight. The prepayment of postage upon all other articles, including registered ¤¤ ¤tl¤¤¤‘ mstletters, shall be compulsory, and when they shall be in no part prepaid, mi °°mp“1“°"Y‘ they shall not be_ despatched, but in such case they shall be, if practicable, restored to the senders. _ Awrrcnn IX. The articles under band which shall he in part prepaid bR*:;“°l“ “l_’;‘}°’ shall be forwarded to their destination; but they shall be charged there paid_ Pm P with twice the amount of the difference between the rate due and the sum actually prepaid. _ ARTICLE X. The international rate of postage upon the correspond- mg'*:l’"pQ,Q€;’g*g ence exchanged between the two countries is based upon the following based upon elements, to wit : -— what; 1. The interior rate of the United States. i2. The interior rate of Belgium, comprising therein the charge of conveyance across the English Channel. 3. The maritime rate. 4. The intermediate transit rate, and any reduction, which either country may obtain from the existing maritime and transit charges, shall enure to the benefit of the people of the two countries by a corresponding reduction of the international rates of postage established in the following article, so soon as the two departments shall have adjusted the amount. ARTICLE XI. The international rates, combined of the elements above uubushcd as mentioned, (Article X.,) and applicable to each standard of progression what, for the several classes of mailable articles, are established as follows, to wit:-— 1. For ordinary letters, 20 cents in the United States and one franc in Letters. Belgium. 2. For registered letters, in addition to the ordinary prepaid rate, an Migrsiststsd gm charge of 10 cents in the United States, and of 50 centimes in ‘ lgium.