TYNER, Acting Postmaster-General to Evarts, May 28, 1877

Mr. Tyner to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23d instant, transmitting a copy of dispatch No. 615, of the 25th ultimo, and of the correspondence which accompanied it, from Mr. Williamson, United States minister to the Central American States, relative to certain postal regulations issued by the government of Guatemala, which are in conflict with the provisions of our postal convention with that country, and which Mr. Williamson states he has assurances will be corrected.

With reference to the suggestion therein made, that a new postal convention be concluded for the purpose of reducing the postage-rates between the two countries, I have the honor to state that since the conclusion of the general postal union treaty, signed at Berne the 9th of October, 1874, it has not been considered expedient to enter into new separate postal arrangements with neighboring countries, but rather to advise all such countries to apply for admission into the postal union, which now embraces all of Europe, Egypt, Turkey in Asia, Russia in Asia, British India, the British, French, Netherland, and Spanish colonies. The Empire of Japan is admitted into the union from June 1, 1877, and Brazil and the Portuguese colonies from July 1, 1877. Greenland and the Danish colonies have applied for admission from July 1, 1877, and the Argentine Republic from September 1, 1877.

I inclose herewith, for transmission to Mr. Williamson, a copy of the general postal union treaty and detailed regulations there under; also, copy of the arrangement concluded at Berne on 27th January, 1876, for the admission of British India and the French colonies into the union under special provisions; which provisions have been made to apply to all the countries and colonies since admitted into the general postal union.

Article XVII of the treaty prescribes the conditions on which the entry into the union of countries beyond sea can be effected upon application to the international postal bureau at Berne.

I am, &c.,