The International Telegraph Conference at St. Petersburg brought out some
differences of policy between the English and the Continental delegates. The objection of the former to con- ducting the ordinary telegraphic business without limitation on Sundays was met by the concession that any country may limit its hours of Sunday service, provided notice of the limitation be given through the "International Bureau" to the other States joining in the Union. There was some opposition to the pro- posal that special messages, corresponding to registered letters, should be accepted, giving the sender a right to compensation in case of miscarriage ; the point, however, was finally conceded, with rules carefully guarding the Governments against impo- sition. " Urgent " messages at higher charges were opposed by the majority of the delegates, including those from England, and finally, the scheme was adopted as not binding on England. The plan of hiring a private wire during the night, which is employed by the Times for its communications with Paris, suggested that such wires might be let out exclusively to newspapers at reduced rates. The new Convention will come into operation at the beginning of the new year, and in 1878 a Congress of delegates from the Governments adopting this Convention will meet in London.
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