Universal Postal Union established

Background. Prior to the UPU's establishment, every pair of countries exchanging mail had to negotiate individual postal treaties. United States Postmaster General Montgomery Blair called for an International Postal Congress in 1863, but delegates meeting in Paris failed to reach an agreement. German Postmaster-General Heinrich von Stephan subsequently called for another International Postal Congress in 1874 to bring order to the system of international mail.

Treaty of Bern. The Treaty of Bern, formally the Treaty concerning the formation of a General Postal Union, was signed on 9 October 1874. It resulted from an international conference convened by the Swiss Government on 15 September 1874. The treaty established the General Postal Union, which was later renamed the Universal Postal Union at the second Postal Union Congress in 1878.

Financial Provisions. The 1874 treaty provided for the originating country to keep all postage revenue, without compensating the destination country for delivery. This arrangement addressed the complexities of international mail exchange. Once terminal dues were established, they became a recurring topic of discussion at every future Postal Union Congress, though the initial treaty did not mandate compensation for delivery costs.