American
Legation,
Berlin,
April 14, 1873. (Received May 1.)
No. 472.]
I have the honor of inclosing to you a copy of a note which I have in
consequence addressed to this government, on the imposition of fines in Cuba
for alleged violations of the customs regulations.
As soon as the Easter holidays are over the German Parliament will come
together again, when the attention of the representatives most interested in
foreign commerce of Germany may be directed to the subject.
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Bancroft to Mr. Von
Balan.
American
Legation,
Berlin, April 14,
1873.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the
United States of America, has the honor of calling the attention of his
excellency Mr. von Balan, actual privy councillor charged with the
conduct of the office for foreign affairs, to the onerous burdens to
which the trade of foreign states is subjected by reason of the system
of fines imposed by the authorities of Cuba for alleged violations of
the customs rules and regulations.
These regulations are wrong in principle, for they impose a fine on the
vessel for errors made by the shippers, over which the owners of the
vessel can have no control, and for which they have no means of
obtaining redress. The manner in which these regulations are enforced is
also arbitrary.
As these burdens fall upon German ships not less than on those of the
United States, the undersigned has been instructed to invite the
attention of the German government to the grievances complained of, with
the request for its co-operation in representations to the Spanish
government for the purpose of causing a modification of the regulations,
so as to simplify the formalities that at present are a source of
incessant annoyance, useless expenditure, and capricious fines.
The inclosed document will show that the government of Sweden and Norway
has already given the necessary instructions on the subject to its
minister at Madrid.
His excellency Mr. von Balan will also find in the inclosed document an
instructive memorandum handed to the American Government by the British
minister at Washington, in June, 1872.
The undersigned values every occasion of renewing to his excellency Mr.
Von Balan the assurance of his highest consideration.
