Beijing Government's Participation In The International Postal Conventions In The Republican Era

The government of China,during the period of Beijing Regiment of Republican China,initiated its formal participation in the international postal conventions,on account of the development of international postal conventions and the expectations of all parties for China's accession.In China,since the late Qing Dynasty,there has been a desire that unified postal sovereignty could be achieved by participating in the postal conventions,so that relevant attempts and efforts in postal legislation have been made,which was a vital background for the Beijing government to participate in the Postal Conventions.In addition,the early stage of Beijing government was full of expectations to improve its international status and to integrate into the international community after joining the International Postal Conventions,which also constituted another background for its participation.The participation in the international postal conventions during the period of Beijing Regiment of Republican China has gone through three stages.First of all,from 1914 to 1918,beginning with participating in the Universal Postal Convention,China successively joined and implemented the Universal Postal Parcel Convention and Universal Postal Mutual Mailing Insurance Letter Agreement,which could be described as the beginning of China's participation in the international postal convention.Secondly,after the Beijing government ofthe Republic of China joined the International Postal Convention in 1920,China attended the General Conference of the Postal Union for the first time,at which six postal agreements,including the International Postal Convention and the International Postal Parcel Agreement were signed,covering the provisions of transportation postage,international collection and forwarding letters,mail review and free mail methods,as well as several types of mail bundling and parcel classification,the use of bills of exchange and checkout,etc.This is an expanding period of participation in the postal convention.With the Eighth Postal Union Conference in 1924 as the boundary,China has entered a new stage of participation in the postal conventions,marked by China's comprehensive revision of the previously signed postal conventions and related agreements.When the Chinese representative participated in the 7th Universal Postal Union Conference,several proposals to safeguard China's postal sovereignty were approved by the Member States and important results were achieved in abolishing China's passenger mail.At the same time,the Beijing government has also accelerated the process of abolishing the Civil Affairs Bureau and promoted the integration of postal institutions with the international community.In the process of participating in a series of international postal conventions,the Beijing government has also begun to keep pace with international standards in domestic legislation.ThePostal Regulations referred to international postal conventions and related agreements,constituting a legal foundation for the development of postal industry.In addition,in accordance with the international postal conventions,the Beijing government has actively signed various business agreements with the United Kingdom,France,the United States and other countries,involving ordinary mail parcel services,international exchange business,insurance letters and parcel service for collection of goods,and air transport mail services,etc,which means international postal affairs have been greatly enhanced.The Beijing government began to use the postal convention to unify postal rights.In terms of the characteristics of Beijing government's participation in international postal conventions are concerned,firstly,they involved a large number of international postal conventions,and exhibited obvious initiative in the process of participation.Secondly,the international postal conventions and related agreements involved and contacted were widely covered,including package delivery,foreign exchange business,collection of payments,insurance letters and box business.Thirdly,Beijing government of the Republic of China joined the International Postal Convention in a relatively equal position.It began the formal participation of the Chinese government in the international postal convention and provided a legal basis for the unified postal rights movement.At the same time,it hasexpanded the geographical scope of postal access and international cooperation,and China Post has achieved considerable development.Participation in a series of international postal conventions during the period of the Beijing government of the Republic of China is of far-reaching significance,which initiated the step of the Chinese government's formal participation in the international postal conventions and provided the legal basis for the unified postal rights movement.At the same time,it has expanded the geographical scope of postal access and international cooperation,signifying China Post has achieved considerable development.However,during the period of Beijing Government,the situation at home and abroad was turbulent,and the financial difficulties of Beijing government became a fetter for the operation and development of the postal industry.In addition,the implementation of international postal conventions was also bound by unequal treaties and the development of China's postal industry could not get rid of the shadow of power politics,therefore its legitimate interests were also not respected and guaranteed.