No. 649.
Memorandum of agreement between the
United States of America, and Spain for the reciprocal and complete
suspension of all discriminating duties of tonnage or imposts in
their respective ports. Done at Washington September 21,
1887.
Memorandum of agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Spain for the reciprocal and complete suspension of all discriminating duties of tonnage or imposts in the United States and in the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico and all other countries belonging to the Crown of Spain, upon vessels of the respective countries and their cargoes.
1. It is positively agreed that from this date an absolute equalization of tonnage dues and imposts shall at once be applied to the productions of or articles proceeding from the United States, or any other foreign country, when carried in vessels belonging to citizens of the United States, and under the American flag, to the islands of Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines, and also to all other countries belonging to the Crown of Spain, and that no higher or other tonnage dues or imposts shall be levied upon said vessels and the goods carried in them, as aforesaid, than are paid by Spanish vessels and their cargoes under similar circumstances.
2. On the above conditions, the President of the United States shall at once issue a proclamation declaring that discriminating tonnage dues and imposts in the United States are suspended and discontinued as regards Spanish vessels and produce, manufactures, or merchadise imported into the United States, proceeding from Spain, from the aforesaid possessions, and from the Philippine Islands; and also from all other countries belonging to the Crown of Spain or from any foreign country.
This protocol of an agreement is offered by the Government of Spain and accepted by that of the United States as a full and satisfactory notification of the facts above recited.
3. The United States minister at Madrid will be authorized to negotiate with the minister for foreign affairs either by an agreement or treaty, so as to place the commercial relations between the United States and Spain on a permanent footing advantageous to both countries.
In witness whereof the undersigned, in behalf of the Governments of the United States and of Spain, respectively, have hereunto set their hands and seals.