I have the honour to inform you that I have noted the desire of the Norwegian Government to consider the said Agreements annulled on the above-mentioned date, and I will duly bring this notification to the knowledge of His Majesty's Government. I have, nevertheless, to point out to your Excellency that, in view of the fact that the Agreements in question have been prolonged for periods of three months dating from the 20th September, 1919, in my opinion the necessary notice of any intention to terminate the Agreements, as soon as one of the Contracting Parties has notified the other of its intention to declare the Agreements annulled, should date from the day on which the last of the quarterly prolongations expired, and, since the prolongations which commenced on the 20th September of the present year had only expired on the 20th December last, the three months' notice which must precede the termination of the Agreements should, strictly, date from the 20th December last, in order that they may cease to be operative on the 20th March, 1921. These considerations induce me to point out that the Government of His Majesty simultaneously denounced all commercial Treaties and Agreements concluded between Spain and other Governments in order that, as they would all cease at the same time, this would also secure uniformity to the customs régime which, after the lapse of these Treaties, would be applicable in Spain to goods of all countries, beginning on the same date. Finally, I would inform your Excellency that the Government of His Majesty also attached importance to the maintenance of the cordial commercial relations which have long existed between the two countries, and is anxious that they should be developed in the future. His Majesty's Government is willing to assist in the furtherance of these relations within the limits of equity and mutual advantage which should serve as the basis for any future Agreements between these two countries, and I am happy to convey to your Excellency this sincere desire on the part of my Government. I have, &c. MARQUIS DE LEMA. (No. 3.) The Norwegian Minister at Paris to the Spanish Minister of State. (Translation.) M. le Marquis, Paris, November 22, 1920. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, in which your Excellency informed me that you have duly noted that the Commercial Conventions between Spain and Norway of the 27th July, 1892, and the 25th August, 1903, have been denounced as from the 3rd February, 1921. With regard to your Excellency's observations as to the period of notice to be given, I would beg to draw your Excellency's attention to the Notes on this subject that passed between the Royal Legation and the Minister of State on the 22nd January and the 24th June last. In the latter of these Notes the Minister of State declared in the following words: "That the Spanish Government agrees with the Norwegian Government's interpretation of the clause quoted, and is also of opinion that the termination of these Conventions should take place after the lapse of three months from the date on which either of the two Governments notifies to the other its intention of regarding such Conventions as terminated.” Thanking your Excellency for the friendly sentiments expressed by you on behalf of His Catholic Majesty's Government regarding the maintenance and development of the present good commercial relations between our two countries, I have, &c. F. WEDEL JARLSBERG. EXCHANGE OF NOTES between Norway and Spain establishing a Provisional Agreement to regulate Commercial Relations between the two Countries.-Madrid, December 1, 1921.* The Spanish Minister of State to the Norwegian Minister at Madrid. (Translation.) Your Excellency, Madrid, December 1, 1921. IN reply to the esteemed Note of to-day's date which your Excellency has been pleased to address to me, I have the honour to inform you that as a result of the conversations recently held, and in the hope that it will be possible to conclude a definitive Convention between Spain and Norway, His Catholic Majesty's Government has agreed to the following Provisional Arrangement between the two countries: I. The Spanish Government undertakes to apply to Norwegian merchandise, subject to an increase of 25 per cent. on each article, the duties in the second column of the Spanish Customs Tariff in force at any given time, with the modifications introduced by the Royal Order of the 3rd June, "Gaceta de Madrid," December 8, 1921. Not printed the terms of the Norwegian Note were the same mutatis mutandis as those of the Spanish Note. 1921, as long as the said Royal Order continues to be effective. II. The Norwegian Government undertakes to apply to Spanish merchandise the minimum duties of the Norwegian Customs Tariff in force at any given time. III. The Norwegian Government undertakes, moreover. to provide for the importation and to authorise the sale and consumption, within the limits fixed by Norwegian law, of such quantities of spirituous liquors and Spanish wines containing more than 14 degrees of alcohol as may be required to meet the needs of the country. IV. Having regard to the restrictions placed on imports of the said beverages during recent months as a result of the differential treatment to which they have been subjected. the Norwegian Government, without prejudice to a definitive arrangement, undertakes to provide for the importation of a minimum quantity of spirituous liquors and wines, of more than 14 degrees, originating in and proceeding from Spain, amounting to 150,000 litres by the 31st March, 1922. This estimate includes Málaga wines. The said amount of 150,000 litres shall not be re-exported from Norway for a commercial purpose. V. In accepting this figure, the Spanish Government reserves to itself on its part full liberty to insist on its former demands in the negotiations relative to a definitive arrangement. VI. This Provisional Arrangement will come into force immediately and terminate on the 31st March, 1922. In informing your Excellency of the foregoing, I have pleasure in stating that by virtue of the delivery which your Excellency has just made me of your Note quoted above and of the present Note, His Catholic Majesty's Government consider the Provisional Arrangement concluded. I avail, &c. MANUEL GONZALEZ-HONTORIA. CONVENTION between Norway and the United States of America relative to the Exchange of Postal Parcels.Christiania, January 11, and Washington, February 11, 1921.* THE undersigned, Albert Sidney Burleson, PostmasterGeneral of the United States of America, and the General 66 League of Nations Treaty Series," No. 130. Ratified by the United States of America, February 14, 1921. The Convention became operative without ratification by Norway. Post Office of Norway, by virtue of authority vested in them, for the purpose of making better arrangements for a parcel post system of exchange between the above-mentioned countries, have agreed upon the following Articles : ART. I. The provisions of this Convention shall relate only to parcels of mail matter to be exchanged by the system herein provided for, and shall in no way affect the arrangements now existing under the Universal Postal Convention, which will continue in force as heretofore; and all the Agreements hereinafter contained shall apply exclusively to mails exchanged under these Articles. II. There shall be admitted to the mails exchanged under this Convention articles of merchandise and mail matter (except letters, postcards and written matter) of all kinds that are admitted under any conditions to the domestic mails of the country of origin, except that no packet may exceed 22 lb. (10 kilog.) in weight, nor the following dimensions: Greatest length in any direction, 3 ft. 6 ins. (105 centim.); greatest length and girth combined, 6 ft. (185 centim.); and must be so wrapped or enclosed as to permit their contents to be easily examined by postmasters and Customs officers, excepting only those articles whose admission in this manner is forbidden by the laws of the country of destination, due notice of which shall be mutually given by the postal authorities of the United States and Norway, respectively. The following articles are prohibited: Publications which violate the copyright of the laws of the country of destination; poisons and explosive or inflammable substances; live or dead animals, except dead insects and reptiles when thoroughly dried; fruits and vegetables which easily decompose and substances which exhale a bad odour; lottery tickets, lottery advertisements and lottery circulars; all obscene or immoral articles, articles which may in any way damage or destroy the mails, or injure the persons handling them. All admissible articles of merchandise mailed in one country for the other, or received in one country from the other, shall be free from detention or inspection of any nature whatsoever, except such as is required for collection of Customs duties; and shall be forwarded by the most speedy means to their destination, being subject, however, in their transmission, to the laws and regulations of each country, respectively. III.-1. No letter or communication of the nature of personal correspondence shall accompany any parcel, or be attached thereto. 2. If such communications be found, they will be placed in the ordinary mail, if separable, and if the communications be inseparably attached the whole package containing them will be rejected. If, however, any such should be inadvertently forwarded, the country of destination may collect on the letter or letters double rates of postage, according to the Universal Postal Convention. 3. No parcel shall contain packages intended for delivery at an address other than the one borne by the parcel itself. If such enclosed packages be detected, they shall be sent forward singly charged with new and distinct parcel post rates. IV. The following rates of postage shall be required to be fully prepaid with postage stamps of the country of origin, viz. : In the United States; for a parcel not exceeding 1 lb. (455 grams) in weight, 12 cents; and for each additional pound (455 grams) or fraction of a pound, 12 cents. In Norway If the weight of the parcel does not exceed 1 kilog. If the weight exceeds 3 kilog. but not 5 kilog. øre. 120 220 320 320 for the first 5 kilog. and 100 øre thereafter for each additional kilogramme or fraction thereof. The parcels shall be promptly delivered to addresses at the post office of address in the country of destination, free of charge for postage; but the country of destination may, at its option, levy and collect from the addressee for interior service and delivery a charge not exceeding 5 cents in the United States and 20 øre in Norway, on each single parcel of whatever weight. V.-1. The sender shall at the time of mailing the parcel receive from the post office where the parcel is mailed a certificate of mailing prepared in accordance with the postal regulations of the country of origin. 2. The sender of a parcel may have the same registered by paying in addition to the postage the registration fee regularly charged in the country of origin. 3. An acknowledgment of the delivery of a registered parcel shall be returned to the sender whenever requested; but either country may require of the sender prepayment of a fee therefore not exceeding 5 cents (20 øre). 4. The addressee of a registered parcel shall be advised of the arrival of the parcel by a notice from the post office of destination. VI.-1. The sender of each parcel shall make a Customs declaration which shall be either pasted upon or attached to the parcel, upon a special form provided for the purpose (Form 1 annexed hereto*), giving a general description of the Not reproduced. |