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MULTILATERAL AGREEMENTS, 1776–1917

to be transmitted to the sender by means of a money order, after deducting a commission of 10 centimes for the service of collection and the ordinary rate chargeable for money orders calculated on the amount of the balance.

The amount of an undeliverable money order of this kind remains at the disposal of the Administration of the country in which the article marked with a trade charge originated.

3. For the loss of a registered article marked with a trade charge the responsibility of the postal service is fixed under the conditions laid down in Article 8 hereafter for registered articles not marked with trade charges.

After the delivery of the article the Administration of the country of destination is responsible for the amount of the trade charge, unless it can prove that the conditions prescribed for such articles by the Detailed Regulations contemplated in Article 20 of the present Convention have not been fulfilled. Nevertheless the omission from the Letter Bill of the entry "Remb." and of the amount of the trade charge does not affect the responsibility of the Administration of the Country of destination for failing to collect the amount.

Article 8

Responsibility for registered articles

1. In case of the loss of a registered article, and except in cases beyond control, the sender, or at the request of the sender, the addressee is entitled to an indemnity of 50 francs.

2. Countries prepared to undertake risks arising from causes beyond control are authorised to collect from the sender on this account a supplementary rate of not more than 25 centimes for each registered article.

3. The obligation of paying the indemnity rests with the Administration to which the despatching office is subordinate. To that Administration is reserved a remedy against the Administration responsible, that is to say, against the Administration on the territory or in the service of which the loss took place.

In case of the loss, under circumstances beyond control, on the territory or in the service of a country undertaking the risks mentioned in the preceding paragraph, of a registered article sent from another country, the country where the loss occurred is responsible for it to the despatching Office, if the latter undertake risks in cases beyond control in dealing with its own public.

4. Until the contrary be proved, the responsibility rests with the Administration which, having received the article without making any observation, cannot establish the delivery to the addressee or the regular transfer to the following Administration, as the case may be. For articles addressed "Poste Restante," or held at the disposition of the addressees, the responsibility ceases on delivery to a person who has proved his identity according to the rules in force in the country of destination, and whose name and description correspond to those indicated in the address.