Chargé Wilson to the Secretary of State.

No. 290, Greek Series.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of the Greek official paper of the 12/25 July, containing the commercial “Declaration” between Greece and Great Britain, which was signed by the King on the 8/21 instant.

In accordance with this declaration, the English Government withdraws its protest in regard to “The land tax and export duty on currants” in return for certain tariff reductions on English goods which are specified in the inclosed “Declaration.”

I have, etc.,

Charles S. Wilson.
[Inclosure.]

declaration.

The Government of His Majesty the King of the Hellenes and the Government of His Britannic Majesty being desirous of making certain modifications in the agreements at present existing between them, have authorized the undersigned to conclude the following arrangement:

1.
The Government of His Britannic Majesty being of opinion that the Greek currant retention law and land tax and export duty on currants law are inconsistent with the stipulation contained in article 2, paragraph 2, of the commercial agreement between the Governments of the United Kingdom and Greece of 1890 are ready to withdraw their protest against these measures in return for the concessions hereinafter indicated.
2.
The Government of His Hellenic Majesty being desirous of arriving at a satisfactory settlement on this point with the Government of His Britannic Majesty, engage to recommend to the legislature in favor of goods of British origin or manufacture the reductions of the duties laid down in the customs tariff, as specified in the annexed document.
3.
The government of Newfoundland agree to recommend to the parliament of Newfoundland the admission, duty free, of currants and sultanas, the produce of the Hellenic Kingdom imported into Newfoundland in return for the reduction by the Greek Government of the duty on Newfoundland codfish imported into Greece to 5 francs per hundred okes.
4.
It is understood that the colonies, possessions, and protectorates of His Britannic Majesty which are at present parties to the commercial treaty of November 10, 1886, shall each of them separately have the power of withdrawing at any time from that convention on giving twelve months’ previous notice of their intention so to do.
5.
In addition to the foregoing stipulations the two governments agree that during the existence of the commercial treaty of 1886 and the commercial agreement of 1890, as modified by the declaration of June 16, 1890, and the present declaration, the goods produced or [Page 515] manufactured in any part of the British Empire shall enjoy in the dominions of His Hellenic Majesty complete and unconditional most-favored-nation treatment so long as such possession, colony, or protectorate shall accord to goods of Greek origin and manufacture treatment as favorable as it gives to the goods, the produce, or manufacture of any other foreign country.
6.
As soon as notice is given by His Hellenic Majesty’s Government that this declaration has obtained legislative sanction in Greece, His Britannic Majesty’s Government will withdraw their protest aganist the measures mentioned in article 1.
7.
The commercial treaty of 1886, the commercial agreement of 1890 as modified by the declaration of June 16, 1890, and by the present declaration, and the present declaration itself shall remain in force for five years from the date on which the Hellenic Government shall have notified that this declaration has obtained legislative sanction in Greece and thereafter until the expiration of a year from the day on which one or other of the contracting parties shall have repudiated them.

Each of the contracting parties reserves, however, the right of causing them to terminate at the end of the fifth year upon twelve months’ notice being given previously.


[l. s.]
A. Romanos.

[l. s.]
Francis E. H. Elliot.

annex.

Modifications in the Greek customs tariff in favor of British goods imported into Greece.

Class in tariff. Description of articles. Duty in metallic drachmas reduced–
From— To—
11b Herrings, 100 okes 20.00 7.68
13 Cod and stockfish, 100 okes 11.364⅓ 5.00
139 Confectionery of all kinds, of honey or of sugar, 100 okes 300.00 38.40
Note.—From the above class of the tariff are excepted Halva and Rahat-Lakoum, as well as similar articles specially mentioned in the tariff in force at the date of the signature of the Anglo-Greek declaration of 1904.
142 Biscuits (galettes) “gimblettes,” etc., with sugar or butter or both; and crackers with or without sugar or butter, and all similar goods, including “pâte à Kataïi,” 100 okes 80.00 40.00
156 Cotton threads for sewing, wound on cards or bobbins or in skeins, white, unbleached, or dyed, twisted or corded or not, without tare allowance as regard cards. 100 okes 150.00 100.00
159c Dyed cotton tissues for linings, 100 okes 120.00 100.00
168c Carpets of hemp or jute, 100 okes 80.00 40.00
185 Tissues of wool or other animal hair (“poil”) not specially mentioned, of any color or make, having the warp or woof entirely or in great part of cotton, and weighing more than 450 grams per square meter; and satin of wool and cotton. 100 okes 130.00 100.00
203 Coarse hempen tissues, 100 okes 30.00 15.00
Note.—Coarse tissues of jute for making sacks are included in the above class of the tariff.

supplementary declaration.

The undersigned, duly authorized thereto by their respective governments, have agreed to the following alteration in and addition to the annex to the declaration of the 10/23 November, 1904.

Alteration.

The note to class 139 to read as follows:

Note.—From the above class of the tariff are excepted Halva and Bahat-Lakoum, as well as similar articles specially mentioned in the tariff in force at the date of the signature of the Greco-English declaration of 1904, and chocolate, chocolate and other creams, candied fruits, and all kinds of fondants.

[Page 516]

Addition.

Class 143. Fruit preserved in vessels hermetically sealed; fruit preserved in wine or spirits or solution of sugar, as well as marmalades and jams, jellies, and other articles not specially mentioned.

Duty in metal drachmas reduced—
From— To—
1 oke 2.00 1.00

[l. s.]
A. Skousés.

[l. s.]
Francis E. H. Elliot.