Office of the Historian

No. 184.
Mr. Scruggs to Mr. Fish.

Legation of the United States,
Bogota, June 27, 1874. (Received July 28.)
No. 42.]

Sir: Thinking it might be a matter of interest to the Department, I respectfully inclose herewith a translation of the law now in force in this country prescribing the manner in which the goods and personal effects of diplomatic agents, resident in Colombia, may be imported free of duty.

I have, &c.,

WM. L. SCRUGGS.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Extract from the fiscal code of the United States of Colombia, page 27.

Art. 134. In order that the goods and effects of diplomatic agents may enjoy the rights of free importation, the following proceedings are necessary:

1.
If the effects and goods should accompany the diplomatic agent, he shall present with his passport, to the chief of the custom-house, a written and signed list, in which shall appear the number of packages, and their marks and numbers.
2.
If the effects and goods should not come with the diplomatic agent, they shall be subject to all the formalities provided for the introduction of cargoes of private individuals; but they shall be delivered free of duty upon the presentation to the chief of the custom-house of an order from the secretary of hacienda, (a branch of the treasury department,) in which are specified the marks, and the number of packages to be delivered. The delivery may also be made before the order is received, if the importer agrees to give security or bond, which the executive power may determine in the regulations which he may issue for the special execution of the present code. If the order should be received before the receipt at the custom-house of the packages, the security for the payment of import duties thereon may be dispensed with.
3.
In order that the order of which the foregoing section treats may be issued, the diplomatic agent shall give notice to the secretary of interior and foreign relations of the packages which he expects, giving their number, with the enumeration and marks, the name of the vessel that brings them, and that of the person to whom the delivery is to be made.