File No. 763.72112/2126
The Secretary of State to the Postmaster General (Burleson)
Sir: The Department has received the letter of the Second Assistant Postmaster General, of the 11th instant, referring to the question of the exchange of parcel-post mails between the United States and Sweden, in which he points out that these mails are composed exclusively OF parcels mailed in this country addressed for delivery in Sweden, and adds that, as such parcels originate in a neutral country and are destined for and are delivered to addressees in another neutral country, the Post Office Department does not understand that the rules pertaining to contraband are applicable to such matter. Mr. Praeger, however, asks for the views of this Department regarding the question.
In reply I have the honor to say that the Department has had occasion to review the question of the shipment of merchandise by parcel post to the countries of Europe and that it still adheres [Page 594] to the views expressed in the letter of the Secretary of State to the Postmaster General of March 22, 1915,1 namely:
- (1)
- That so far as the action of belligerent countries is concerned, the rules which apply to merchandise sent by freight or express shall apply also to merchandise sent by mail; and
- (2)
- That merchandise deposited at the various post offices to be sent into belligerent territory will be accepted and sent at the sender’s risk.
I have [etc.]