| Descrição |
Em 1863, por diligência do Correio-Mor dos
Estados Unidos da América, Montgomery Biair, reuniu-se em Paris uma
conferência postal internacional, com a participação de quinze países
(entre os quais Portugal), da qual saíram 31 artigos visando uma união
definitiva de todas as nações, em matéria postal. Mas, por razões várias,
e até por que nenhum representante tinha poderes do respectivo governo
para negociar, o plano de unidade não foi levado avante.
56 quinze anos
mais tarde, e graças aos esforços do director dos correios alemães,
Heinrich von Stephan, se reuniu em Berna, de 1 5 de Setembro a 9 de
Outubro de 1874, um congresso, composto de representantes de 21 países:
Alemanha, Áustria, Bélgica, Dinamarca, Egipto, Espanha, Estados Unidos,
Grã-Bretanha, Grécia, Hungria, Itália, Luxemburgo, Noruega, Países Baixos,
Portugal, Roménia, Rússia, Sérvia, Suécia, Suíça e Turquia. Nele, von
Stephan apresentou um projecto claro, simples e preciso para a formação de
uma união postal internacional, e respondeu tão bem a todas as exigências
e pedidos de esclarecimento que a maior parte dos governos dos Estados
representados o aceitou sem alterações. Em 9 de Outubro de 1874 foi
assinado o acordo por todos os delegados, com excepção dos da França (que
só aderiu em 1876), e fundada a 'União Geral dos Correios'. Nos seus
termos, 'Os países entre os quais é celebrado o presente tratado formarão
(... ) um só território postal, para a permutação recíproca de
correspondências entre as respectivas estações de correios (... )', sendo
fixada uma 'taxa geral da união', de 25 cêntimos do franco-ouro, por uma
carta singela, franquiada. O porte das cartas não franquiadas seria o
dobro daquele que, no país de destino, tivesse sido fixado para as cartas
franquiadas.
O tratado entrou em vigor em 1 de Julho de 1875. Portugal
esteve representado por Eduardo Lessa, Sub-lnspector Geral dos Correios.
Em 1878, o nome 'União Geral dos Correios' foi mudado para 'União Postal
Universal'.
The international postal
relationship has been considerably developed during the 19th century,
mainly because of the invention and adoption of a postage system by almost
every country in the world. The improvement in transportation has
contributed on a large scale to the intensification of this relationship.
There was a general consensus of opinion that there was a need to create a
union among ail countries to rule the postal communications. It has
sometimes occurred that two countries have made join-ventures with the
purpose of improving mail exchange by establishing different postage rates
and weights. The lack of structure caused a confusion and led to problems
both for employees and the public. Even with the adoption of the prepaid
stamp by almost every country in the world, most of the international
correspondences did not use it because no convention had established the
corresponding postage.
In 1863, the United States of America Post
Director, Montgomery Biair, promoted an international postal conference in
Paris, with the participation of fifteen countries of which Portugal was
one. in this meeting, 31 articles regarding postal matters were approved
aiming to unite all countries. But, for different reasons, and because
none of the representatives were entrusted by the respective country to
negotiate final decisions, the unification plan did not succeed. Fifteen
years later and thanks to the efforts of the German Post director,
Heinrich von Stephan, a congress gathering representatives of 21
countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Spain, United
States, Great-Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, the
Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland and
Turkey took place in Bern, from 15th September to 9th October 1874.
In
this congress Von Stephen presented a clear project It was very simple and
precise for the formation of an international postal union. Von Stephen
had adapted so neatly to the different exigencies and clarified ail doubts
so efficiently that most of the governments of the States represented in
the congress accepted the project without any change. On 9th October 1874
an agreement was signed by ail delegates, except those from France (who
only adhered in 1876), and the 'General Postal Union' was created. The
terms of the contract were that "the countries celebrating the present
contract will form (... ) a single postal territory to exchange
correspondence among each respective post offices (... )". For the single
prepaid letters, a 'general union tax' amounting 25 cents of the French
franc gold coin has been fixed. The non prepaid letters would cost double
the amount fixed for prepaid letters in the country to whom the letter was
addressed. This contract went into force on the lst of July 1875. Portugal
has been represented by Eduardo Lessa, the Portuguese Post General
Sub-Director. In 1878, the name 'General Postal Union' changed to
'Universal Postal Union'. New international taxes were fixed, 25 cents for
letters, 10 cents for postcards and 5 cents for printed matter. It was
decided that a congress would take place every five years as well as
conferences in-between any time that important matters had to be
discussed. In 1900 a special congress took place in Bern to commemorate
the 25th anniversary of the U.P.U. Following this meeting, a monument to
the Union, named 'Au tour du monde' (Around the world), by the sculpture
Renê de St. Marceau, was inaugurated in 1909. During the past 125 years
ail States of the world have joined, little by little, the concept of the
single postal territory and the basic principles of the 1874
agreement.
Les
relations postales internationales se
développèrent considérablement pendant le 19ème siècle et, spécialement,
après l'invention et l'adoption du système de port payé par presque
tous les pays du monde. L. accroissement des moyens de transports
contribua, sur une large échelle, à l'intensification de ces relations.
Cependant, il fallait une union générale de tous les pays pour régler
les communications postales. Plusieurs conventions entre deux États pour
l'amélioration des échanges de correspondance établissaient des ports et
des poids divers qui causaient de la confusion et des problèmes, soit aux
employés soit au public. Même après l'adoption du timbre affranchi par presque
tous les pays civilisés, la plupart des correspondances internationales
ne l'utilisaient pas parce qu. II n'y n'avait pas de
conventions qui établissaient les ports respectifs.
En l863, sur
l'initiative du directeur de la poste des États Unis d'Amérique,
Montgomery Biair, une conférence postale internationale eut lieu à Paris,
avec la participation de quinze pays, y compris le Portugal. 3l articles
ayant en vue une union définitive de toutes les Nations en ce qui
concernait la poste furent émis. Mais, pour plusieurs raisons, et parce
qu'aucun représentant n'avait le pouvoir de son gouvernement pour le
négocier, le plan d'unité ne réussit pas.
Seulement quinze années plus tard, et
grâce aux efforts du directeur de la poste allemande, Heinrich von Stephan,
un congrès avec des représentants de 2l pays, l'Allemagne, Autriche, Belgique,
Danemark, Égypte, Espagne, États Unis, Grande-Bretagne, Grèce,
Hongrie, Italie, Luxembourg, Norvège, les Pays-Bas, Portugal,
Roumanie, Russie, Serbe, Suède, Suisse et Turquie, eut lieu à
Berne du l5 septembre au 9 octobre l874. Là, Von Stephan présenta un projet
clair, simple et précis pour la formation d'une union postale internationale, qui
répondait si bien à toutes les exigences et demandes d. éclaircissement
que la plupart des gouvernements des États représentés l'accepta
sans altérations. Le 9 octobre l874 un contrat fut signé par tous
les délégués exceptés ceux de la France (qui adhéra seulement en l876)
et fonda 'l. Union Générale des Postes". Selon les termes du contrat
'Les pays entre lesquels le contrat présent est célébré, formeront (..) un
seuil territoire postal pour l'échange réciproque de correspondances entre
les bureaux de poste respectifs( ... )', avec un 'tarif général de l'union
de 25 centimes du franc - or, pour une lettre simple avec
affranchissement. le port des lettres sans affranchissement serait le
double de ce qui avait été fixé dans le pays de destination pour les
lettres avec affranchissement. Le traité prit force le l juillet l875. Le
Portugal fut représenté par Eduardo Lessa, le Sous-inspecteur Général des
Postes.
En l878, le nom 'Union Générale des Postes' fut changé en
'Union Postale Universelle', et les tarifs internationaux de 25 centimes
(lettres), l0 centimes (cartes postales) et 5 centimes (imprimés) furent
fixés. De même, fut décidée la réalisation d'un congrès tous les cinq ans
et des conférences intercalaires au cas où des questions importantes à
résoudre surgiraient. En l900 un congrès spécial eu lieu à Berne pour
commémorer ]e 25ème anniversaire de l'U.P.U. À la suite du congrès, un
monument à l'Union, nommé "Au tour du monde' dont l'auteur fut le
sculpteur Renê de St. Marceau, fut inaugure en l909.
Au long de ces l25
années, tous les États du monde adhérèrent, petit à petit, au concept de
territoire postal et aux principes basiques du contrat de l874.
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