Adverting to our remarks in our article of the 19th instant to the effect that "China had joined the Union and is only waiting with laudable caution to see a thorough trial of its organisation before undertaking international work," we now publish a translation of the Circular Note addressed to the Postal Union Countries by the Swiss Federal Council informing them of China's present partial and eventual full adhesion to the Union Berne, 22nd June, 1896. Monsieur lo Ministre, We have the honour to inform your Excellency that by a note dated the 15th of April last, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China at Peking has communicated to while organising an Imperial Postal Service, us that his Government has the intention,
to admit without farther charge from the Ist of January, 1897, correspondence franked at union rates destined to a certain number of Chinese localities, and to request: later on that China shall be admitted into the Universal Postal Union.
We believe that we cannot do better than give hereunder a translation of the Note in question "The Ministers of Foreign Affairs in china have the honour of informing the honourable Swiss Federal Council that an Imperial Decree has just ordered the establishment of a Postal Service, to function primarily at Peking and the ports open to foreign trade, and to be developed by degrees as circumstances permit. Their attention having been drawn to the existence of the Postal Union, its great utility and the admire able manner in which it is administered by the Swiss government, its delegate, and considering that all the Powers with which China has concluded Treaties are member of this Union, and that the adhesion of China to the Union cannot but be to the general advantage, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs beg, accordingly, to notify the honourable Swiss Federal Council of the intention of the Chinese Government establish a Postal Service, and, later on, to join the Postal Union; but as the Imperial Postal Service is a new creation, and its organisation will require a more or less long period; the date at which China proposes to give her formal adhesion and accept the accompanying duties and responsibilities cannot be fixed until later on, after it is decided that the Service is working properly. Meanwhile, the Tsungli Yamen, that is, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, wish cognisance to be now taken of China's intention to join the Postal Union, and declare for the information of the honourable Federal Council and the members of the Union, that from the Ist of January, 1897, correspondence coming from countries that are members of the Union will, from the Ist of January, 1897, on its arrival at Peking, Newchwang, Tientsin, Chefoo, Chungking, Tchang, Shasi, Hankow, Kiukiang, Wuhu, Chinkiang, Shanghai, Soochow, Hangchow, Ningpo, Wenchow, Foochow, Amoy, Swatow, Canton, Eoihow (Kiungchow), Pakhoi, Lungchow, and Méngtze, be received, transmitted, and distributed by the offices of the Imperial Post at these points, free of all supplementary postal charges.
"As additional post offices are established whether it is true, as stated, that and the Postal Service is developed, notice hair and steady eyes, looking somewhat n explosion at Ytinyang will will from time to time be given for general over thirty, and dressed in a little barge, blow up his. yamen at Chengtu (Yiin- information. The Imperial Postal Service green-flowered is at the outset attached to the Service of the Imperial Maritime Customs, and laced under the direction of the Inspector-eneral of Customs; its delegate in Europe for all postal questions is the Commissioner of Customs Mr. J. D. Campbell, resident in London, to whom all questions as to details or necessary information should addressed.
We have the honour, etc."
We avail ourselves of this occasion, eto.
The President of the Confederation, 1
The Chancellor of the Confederation, To his Excellency,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.