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221
We Now 192
China.
It seems clear that the object of those thefts was not to obtain information as to the purport of corres- pondence but to purloin Bank of Tagland Notes.
It is probable that the present suspicions as t- violation of the Mails arise from the fact that for some From months past the Mails have been subject to delay. information which has reached the Postmaster General it a pears that when the Mals, or portion of then, have arrived at Moscow sufficiently early they have been forwarded by ordinary train instead of being retained for despatch by the express train which passes the ordinary train en roite, and have thus been delayed as much as five days. Strong representations have been made to the Russian Post Office on this subject; and it is hoped that arrangeants have been made to secure the punctual con- veyance of the Mails.
In the absence of any direct evidence the Postmaster General is d'aposed to discou. the suggest`.. made at Tientsin, mentioned in the despatch from the Governor How 19 of Hong Kong uated the 15th of November, that the delay
occurs at the Russo-Japanese Junction al Awauchengtze, especially as in all the cases in thich it has been possible to obtain any tangible evidence it seems clear that the delay occurred between Moscow and Harbin.
I am to add that the Postmaster General has been in communication with the Foreign Office on the subject of the
No information has delay of the Mails sent viâ Siberia.
reached that Office which would afford ground for suspicion
that the Mails are being tampered with.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Arching
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