Mr. Conger to Mr.
Gresham.
Legation of
the United States,
Petropolis, June 2, 1893.
(Received July 3, 1893.)
No. 448.]
Sir: Notwithstanding the promise of the minister of
foreign affairs, communicated to you in my dispatch of April 19, that the
collection of duties on wheat flour from the United States should cease,
complaints were made to me by the importers here that the so-called expediente duties were still demanded. I therefore
again persistently presented the matter to the minister of foreign affairs,
with the result that finally an order has been issued to the customs
authorities by the minister of finance to the end that such collections on
all articles agreed to be admitted free under the reciprocity arrangement
shall stop, and the terms of the arrangement be vigorously maintained. I
inclose copies of all correspondence with the foreign office on the subject
since my dispatch of April 19.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 448.]
Mr. Conger to
Senhor Freire.
Legation of the United States,
Petropolis, May 1,
1893.
Sir: I regret that I am obliged to call the
attention of your excellency to the fact that, notwithstanding the
information contained in note No. 11 from your ministry of April 12,
that the collection of duties on wheat flour from the United [Page 37] States of America shall cease in the
custom-houses of Brazil, yet such duties are still demanded and
collected.
Messrs. Levering &. Co., of Rio de Janeiro, complain to me by letter
of April 29, a copy of which I inclose, that on the 28th ultimo they
were compelled to pay duties on 1,100 barrels of flour, and I am
notified by other importers that they are daily expecting shipments upon
which the authorities must collect same tax, unless competent
instructions are issued for their free entry. In order to avoid further
complaints and reclamations, I confidently trust that such measures may
be taken as will early accomplish the just determination of the
Brazilian Government as expressed in the said note of April the 12th to
carry out the spirit and letter of the reciprocity arrangement.
With pleasure I improve the occasion, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No
448—Translation.]
Senhor Freire to
Mr. Conger.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Rio
de Janeiro, May 6,
1893.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of the note of the 1st instant, by which Mr. E. H. Conger, envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of
America, reclaims against the continuance of collections by the
Brazilian custom-houses of the expediente tax on
wheat flour exported from his country. I go to have an understanding
with the minister of finance for the purpose of replying definitely to
Mr. Conger, to whom I reiterate the protests of my high
consideration.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 448.]
Mr. Conger to
Senhor Freire.
Legation of the United States,
Petropolis, May 15,
1893.
Sir: In consequence of continued complaints
from the shippers of wheat flour from the United States of America of
the collection of duties, by the Brazilian customs authorities, on wheat
flour from the United States of America, in violation of the express
terms of the reciprocity arrangement, I am constrained to again ask your
excellency if the early execution of the decision expressed in the notes
from your ministry of April 12 and May 6, respectively, is not
possible.
I can well understand how overwhelming must be the management of the two
great portfolios of which your excellency has charge; and yet the fact
that these departments control the subject-matter under discussion may
render the problem easy of solution.
Again expressing my confidence in the purpose of your excellency and the
Brazilian Government to faithfully carry out the stipulations of the
treaty,
I reiterate, etc.,
[Inclosure 4 in No.
448—Translation.]
Senhor Freire to
Mr. Conger.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Rio
de Janeiro, May 31,
1893.
Sir: In reply to the note which Mr. E. H.
Conger, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United
States of America, addressed to me on the 15th instant, I have the honor
to inform him that the minister of finance has already ordered the
inspectors of customs to take measures to the end that the American
products mentioned in article 1 of decree No. 1338 of February 5, 1891,
should be despatched free of all and whatever duties.
I improve, etc.,
[Page 38]
[Inclosure 5 in No. 448.]
Mr. Conger to
Senhor Freire.
Legation of the united States,
Petropolis, June 1,
1893.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of
your excellency’s note of the 31st ultimo, with information that the
inspectors of customs have been instructed to dispatch free of all
duties the products mentioned in article 1 of decree No. 1338 of
February 5, 1891. This determination on the part of the Brazilian
Government to vigorously maintain the conditions of the reciprocity
arrangement will be duly appreciated by my Government.
Thanking your excellency for your prompt personal attention to the
matter, I again assure you, etc.,
