1. A method for transferring and preserving delivery status notification information that is sent from a first network into a second network comprising the steps of: receiving an e-nail message from said first network having associated therewith delivery status notification information that identifies a return notification that should be returned to the sender upon occurrence of at least one specific event relating to the status of delivery of the message; mapping the received delivery status notification information into the closest delivery status notification option supported by said second network and storing said mapped delivery status notification information in order to permit said second network to generate the return notification should said at least one specific event take place within said second network; and preserving the original delivery status notification information received from the first network by encoding it at the second network and by associating the encoded deliver status notification information in a fashion that will permit the encoded delivery status notification information to be transparently transferred along with the associated message without causing the second network to act on the encoded delivery status notification information.