In case of loss, under circumstances of force majeure, on the territory or in the service of a country undertaking the risks mentioned in the preceding section, of a registered article sent from another country, the country where the loss occurred is responsible for it to the dispatching Office, if the latter, on its part, undertakes risks in cases of force majeure over against its senders.
4.—Until the contrary be proved, the responsibility rests with the Administration which, having received the article without making any remark, cannot prove either the delivery to the addressee, or the regular transmission to the next Administration, as the case may be. As regards articles addressed poste restante, the responsibility ceases upon delivery to a person who has proved, according to the regulations in force in the country of destination, that his name and description correspond to those indicated in the address.
5.—The payment of the indemnity by the dispatching 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 refund to the dispatching Office without delay the amount of the indemnity paid by the latter.
The Office of origin is authorized to indemnify the sender on account of the intermediary Office or the Office of destination which, after regular application has been made, has allowed a year to elapse without attending to the matter. Moreover, in case an office whose responsibility has been duly established, has originally declined to pay the indemnity, it must take upon itself, in addition to the indemnity, the accessory charges resulting from the unwarranted delay in payment.
6.—It is understood that the application for an indemnity is entertained only if made 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.
7.—If the loss has occurred during transportation, and it is impossible to ascertain on the territory or in the service of what country the loss took place, the Administrations concerned bear the loss in equal proportions.
8.—Administrations cease to be responsible for registered articles, for which the owners have given a receipt and have accepted them.
Article 9
1.—The sender of a letter or other article may cause it to be withdrawn from the mails, or cause the address to be changed, as long as the article has not been delivered to the addressee.
2.—The request to be formulated for this purpose is transmitted by mail or by telegraph, at the expense of the sender, who must pay, as follows:
- 1st for every request by mail the charge applicable to a registered single letter;
