893.71 Manchuria/66
The Acting Postmaster General (Eilenberger) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: The receipt is acknowledged of your letter of the 29th ultimo (file 893.71–Manchuria/61 [65], enclosing copy of the recommendations adopted on May 16, 1934, by the Advisory Committee on the Far Eastern situation of the League of Nations with regard to a question raised by the British Government concerning postal traffic in transit through Manchuria.
You make certain comments as to your Department’s understanding of the postal relations between this Department and the Postal Administration of “Manchukuo” and ask to be informed of this Department’s views as to the tenor of the reply, tentatively outlined in your letter, to be made to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations.
Since the informal discussions between officials of our two Departments there have been received additional reports concerning the international mail transit statistics of October 15–November 11, 1933, which indicate that the question of payment for transit charges is likely to arise, not for transit service performed for this Department [Page 217] by the Postal Administration of “Manchukuo” but for service performed for the latter by the Postal Administration of the United States. It is indicated that the total annual amount due this Department will be small, however, and may not exceed $500.
While no occasion has arisen as yet, it is pointed out that there exists also the possibility that claims for indemnity may arise in the future on account of the loss, rifling or damage of registered mail sent to or received from “Manchukuo”.
In view of the situation outlined above, it appears probable that occasion will arise for the Postal Administration of the United States to enter into relations with that of “Manchukuo”, and it will, therefore, be agreeable to this Department if, as you suggest, the Secretary-General of the League of Nations is informed that, should any action affecting Manchuria become necessary for the maintenance of adequate postal services, the American Postal Administration would be prepared to conform such action to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee.
In this connection it is desired to point out that the international transit statistics of October 15–November 11, 1933, previously referred to, are governed by the provisions of the Universal Postal Convention of London,48 as are all matters concerning the settlement of claims for indemnity for the loss, rifling or damage of articles contained in the registered mails exchanged with foreign countries generally. Should any relations with “Manchukuo” become necessary, substantially the same technical procedure could doubtless be followed without reference to the Convention.
Very truly yours,
- Signed June 28, 1929; 46 Stat. 2523, or League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. cii, p. 245.↩