No. 240.
Mr. Marsh to Mr. Fish.
Borne, October 28, 1871. (Received November 20.)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 307, dated September 8, 1871, relating to the increased duties levied on petroleum imported into Italy, and will take an early opportunity of bringing the subject to the notice of the minister of foreign affairs.
I have no ‘doubt that the minister of foreign affairs will personally be disposed to favor equitable action in this matter, but the question will be considered as properly belonging to the ministry of finance, which has hitherto not inclined to relax the strict letter of the law.
I do not suppose that the ministry has the power of re-imbursing the duties already paid in pursuance of the law of the last session, and, of course, if any relief is afforded, it can be given only by act of parliament. Legislation for this purpose is certainly possible, but unless recommended by the minister of finance, a bill for the relief of the complainants would meet with opposition on general grounds, and it would be strongly resisted by an influential class of persons, who think their interests have been seriously prejudiced by our duties on marble.
It is understood that a further increase of the duty on petroleum will be recommended by the minister of finance at the approaching session of parliament. If this proposal is adopted I hope it will not be so abruptly enforced as was the law of last session, and, in any event, it seems desirable that American dealers in this product should be advised in time, that new burdens are likely to be imposed on its introduction into Italian ports.
I am, &c.,