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foreign mail-steamers, but they undoubtedly resented the existence of foreign post offices at inland places such as Hankow and others, where the offices were no longer necessary for the transmission of mails, and were maintained for purely political purposes. Mr. Agien expressed the view, on whose authority he did not say, that the Powers individually would have no objection to removing their offices provided each was sure that the others were prepared to do so.
He did not think that the plan of starting a line of Chinese mail-steamers was likely to mature at present. It would obviously not be worth China's while to run a line of steamers, e.g., from Shanghai to London or Liverpool, though there would be nothing to prevent it if she chose to put up the necessary subsidy. What was more likely was that she would make an experiment on a small scale, e.g., institute a Chinese mail service to Japan, the risks and expense of which would be less formidable. gather, however, that this part of the scheme is published for home consumption, and is not intended to be taken too seriously.
I have, &c.
I
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1913
To extend third-class post offices to all lesser district and country towns.
To establish a "Postal Gazette."
To start postal telegraph drafts.
1914.
To draw up treaties with the various Powers relative to the insurance of postal matter and remittances.
To extend the post offices in Mongolia and Thibet.
To establish machine shops (for the manufacture of post office requirements).
1915.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER,
To start in operation special express delivery vans in the treaty ports. To extend fourth-class post offices in the neighbourhoods outside Peking. To extend the system of postal orders and savings banks to second-class and third- class offices in all the provinces.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Extract from Memorial detailing Measures proposed to be carried out in connection
with the Chinese Posts.
1910.
TO make arrangements for the transfer of the control of the postal administration. To concert with the Revenue Council the details of the above transfer.
To compile and publish postal rules and regulations.
To establish postal and telegraph classes in connection with communication
courses.
To dispatch students to Austria to make a study of postal administrations.
To draw up a statement of ordinary postal administration expenditure and of the
estimated expenditure on its extension.
To make arrangements for the amalgamation of postal stations.
1916.
To issue postage stamps in commemoration of the Constitutional Government. To extend the system of railway travelling post offices, and attach them in rear of special express trains on all lines.
To extend the systems of post office telegraphic transfers and of insurance of mail matters to all postal union countries in the world.
1911.
To publish new postal administration regulations.
To regulate the rules referring to ranks, salaries, examinations, and appointments
in the postal service.
To decide on places in the various provinces for the establishment of head and branch offices.
To dispatch officials to attend the International Postal Conference and investigate the postal administrations of foreign countries,
To pray the Throne to establish a uniform standard for postal administration seals, &c.
To make arrangements for post office savings banks.
To make arrangements for foreign mail vessels.
1912.
To join the International Postal Union. (N.B.-And to discuss with the various Powers the question of the abolition of foreign post offices.)
To publish postal laws.
To abolish or adapt the private postal agencies in various places.
To extend second-class offices to all prefectural, departmental, and district towns.
To decide the mothod of dealing with undelivered correspondence.
To make arrangements for post offices in Mongolia and Thibet.
To start foreign mail vessels.
To start post office savings banks in all the provinces,
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