The relations of Ottoman Postal Administration with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) 1874-1920

The industrial and economic developments in the 19th century led to remarkable growth in the postal sector. The postal deliveries which trading companies formerly delivered were left under the responsibilities of postal organizations as of the second half of the 18th century. Since an independent postal administration governed states' postal systems, there weren't sustainable administrative relations between different postal organizations. Also, there were significant difficulties and complexities around the international postal services due to transit passes, postal legislations, and high postal fees. This situation, which was a barrier to the development of international trade, made the postal exchanges and circulations difficult. Additionally, it led to the service delivery, service quality, and access to services being restricted. The international development of the postal services, which have been available since the early ages, only took place in the second half of the 19th century. When the idea of establishing a postal union first emerged, Ottoman Empire welcomed and supported this idea. With the belief that postal violations and foreign postal problems could be permanently resolved under UPU framework, Ottoman Empire took part in the Bern Congress that took place in Bern between 15 Septemer-9 October 1874 and on 9 October 1874 became a party to International Postal Convention, which symbolises the foundation of Universal Postal Union. In this context, this thesis analyses Ottoman Empire's UPU membership, the foreign post' presence on Ottoman territories, European countries' and UPU's approach towards foreign post issue, the extent the foreign post issue was covered in UPU's congress works, the coverage of Ottoman Postal Administration and foreign post in European newspapers, the efforts made to politicise and justify the postal violations on Ottoman territories and the works of the delegations of Ottoman Empire to the UPU and their works at the congresses. Keywords: Ottoman Empire, Ottoman Postal Administration, UPU, UPU Membership, Foreign Post Issue, Bern Congress, the Treaty of Bern and Postal Violations.