The payment of the indemnity by the despatching office should be made as soon as possible, and at the latest, within the period of one year dating from the day of the reclamation. The responsible office is bound to reimburse without delay to the despatching office the amount of the indemnity paid by it.
It is understood that the reclamation is only admitted within the period of one year from the time when the registered article was mailed; after this period has passed, the claimant has no right to any indemnity.
If the loss has occurred during transportation between the exchange offices of two neighboring countries, and it is impossible to ascertain on which of the two territories it has taken place, the two Administrations concerned bear the loss in equal proportions.
The Administrations cease to be responsible for registered articles, the addressees of which have given a receipt for them and have accepted them.
As a temporary measure, the Administrations of the countries beyond Europe, whose legislation is at present opposed to the principle of responsibility, are permitted to postpone the application of the preceding clause until the time when they shall have obtained, from the legislative power, authority to subscribe to it. Up to that time, the other Administrations of the Union are not bound to pay an indemnity for the loss, in their respective services, of registered articles addressed to or originating in the said countries.
VI
A new article is inserted between articles 9 and 10, reading as follows:
Article 9 bis
Articles of correspondence of every kind are, at the request of the senders, delivered at the residence of the addressees by a special carrier immediately after their arrival, in countries of the Union which consent to undertake this service in their reciprocal relations.
These articles, which are indorsed "express," are subject to a special charge for delivery at the residence; this charge is fixed at 30 centimes, and must be paid in full, and in advance, by the sender, over and above the ordinary postage. It is paid to the Administration of the country of origin.
If the article is destined for a locality where there is no post-office, the Administration of Posts of the country of destination may levy an additional charge, to the amount of the rate fixed for delivery by express in its domestic service, a deduction being made of the fixed rate paid by the sender, or of its equivalent in the money of the country which levies this additional charge.
