Large island off the coast of southeastern Africa. Madagascar became a French protectorate in 1885 and a French colony in 1896 following several years of dispute among France, Great Britain, and the native government. The colony administered the former protectorates of Anjouan, Grand Comoro, Mayotte, Diego-Suarez, Nossi-Be and SainteMarie de Madagascar. The Malagasy Republic succeeded the colony in 1958 and became the Democratic Republic of Malagasy in 1975. The official name was again changed in 1993 to Republic of Madagascar.
1949 - 75th anniv. of the UPU
The Universal Postal Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates postal policies among member countries, in addition to the worldwide postal system. Before the establishment of the UPU, each country had to prepare a separate treaty with other nations that post had wanted to bring international mail to and from. The UPU was created in 1874.
