Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 33 Part 2.djvu/983

 2278 and shall be dispatched by the country of origin at its own cost and by such means as it provides, to the country of destination; but must be forwarded, at the option of the dispatching office, either in boxes prepared especially for the purpose or in ordinary mail sacks, to be marked "Parcels-Post," and not to contain any other articles of mail matter, and to be securely sealed with wax, or otherwise, as may be mutually provided by regulations hereunder. Each country shall promptly return empty to the dispatching office by next mail, all such bags and boxes, but subject to other regulations between the two Administrations. Although articles admitted under this Convention will be transmitted as aforesaid between the exchange offices, they should be so carefully packed as to be safely transmitted in the open mails of either country, both in going to the exchange office in the country of origin and to the office of address in the country of destination. Each dispatch of a parcels-post mail must be accompanied by a descriptive list, in duplicate, of all the parcels sent, showing distinctly the list number of each parcel, the name of the sender, the name of the addressee, with address of destination, and the declared contents and value; and must be inclosed in one of the boxes or sacks of such dispatch. [See Form 3 annexed hereto.]

As soon as the mail shall have reached the office of destination, that office shall check the contents of the mail. In the event of the parcel bill not having been received, a substitute should be at once prepared. Any errors in the entries on the parcel bill which may be discovered, should, after verification by a second officer, be corrected and noted for report to the dispatching office on a form "Verification certificate," which should be sent in a special envelope. If a parcel advised on the bill be not received, after the nonreceipt has been verified by a second officer, the entry on the bill should be canceled and the fact reported at once. Should a parcel be received in a damaged or imperfect condition, full particulars should be reported on the same form. If no verification certificate or note of error be received, a parcels-mail shall be considered as duly delivered, having been found on examination correct in all respects.

If the parcels can not be delivered as addressed, or if they are refused, they should be reciprocally returned without charge, directly to the dispatching office of exchange, at the expiration of thirty days from their receipt at the office of destination, and the country of origin may collect from the sender for the return of the parcel a sum equal to the postage when first mailed. Provided, however, that parcels prohibited by Article II and those which do not conform to the conditions as to size, weight and value prescribed by said article, shall not necessarily be returned to the country of origin, but may be disposed of, without recourse, in accordance with the customs laws and regulations of the country of destination. When the contents of a parcel which can not be delivered are liable to deterioration or corruption, they may be destroyed at once, if necessary, or if expedient, sold, without previous notice or judicial formality, for the benefit of the right person, the particulars of each sale being noticed by one post-office to the other.