Ambassador Griscom to the Secretary of State.

[Extracts.]
No. 13.]

Sir: I have the honor to confirm a telegram addressed to you on the 3d instant which, deciphered, reads as follows:a

Mr. Eichardson transmitted to you in his No. 165 of May 16b a copy of a note of inquiry which he addressed to the foreign office pursuant to your cable instruction of the 15th of May. After waiting a month for a reply to Mr. Richardson’s inquiry I made several verbal inquiries at the foreign office without producing any result, and finally, on the 30th of June, addressed to the minister of foreign affairs a note, a copy of which I inclose herewith, asking him to give me a reply to the very simple question as to whether the 20 per cent reduction had as yet gone into effect. My inquiry was immediately followed by the publication on the 3d of July of a presidential decree, a copy and translation of which I inclose herewith, putting into effect a 20 per cent preferential reduction in favor of the following goods imported from the United States: Flour, condensed milk, types of rubber, watches and clocks, inks except for writing, varnishes, typewriters, refrigerators, scales, pianos, and windmills.

I am now engaged in collecting some statistics to show the effect of the operation of the 20 per cent reduction in our favor which was in effect from April 15, 1904, until January 1, 1905. At an early date, therefore, I will have the honor of making a further report to the department on this subject.

I have, etc.,

Lloyd C. Griscom.
[Inclosure 1.]

Ambassador Griscom to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Monsieur le Ministre: I have the honor to refer to your excellency’s note No. 15 of May 19 last to Mr. Richardson, in which, after acknowledging the receipt of his note of the 16th of that month inquiring whether the promised reduction of 20 per cent in the customs duties on certain American articles had as yet gone into effect, your excellency promised to make urgent inquiries in the premises from the ministry of fazenda.

Since the receipt of the above-mentioned note this embassy has heard nothing more about the matter from your excellency’s Government, and as this reduction of 20 per cent in the customs duties is of considerable importance to my Government, I must beg of your excellency to be good enough to communicate to me the answer to this simple question at the very earliest possible moment.

I take advantage of the opportunity to renew, etc.,

Lloyd C. Griscom.
[Inclosure 2.]

Executive decree No. 6,079, of June 30, 1906, and published in the Diario Official on July 3, 1906.

[Translation.]

Conceding a reduction in the importation duties of certain articles of a North American source;

The President of the United States of Brazil with the intention of promoting the development of the commercial relations of Brazil with the United States of North America; and whereas,

[Page 115]

That country is the greatest importer of coffee, which has free entry to its markets;

Article 6 of law No. 1144 of December 30, 1903, added to article 18 of law No. 1452 of December 30, 1905, authorizes the Government to adopt a differential tariff for one or more articles of foreign production as a compensation for concessions made to articles of Brazilian production;

Decrees:

  • Article 1. During the current year, and from the 1st of July next until the 31st of December, the following articles of the produce of the United States of North America shall enjoy a reduction of 20 per cent in import duties on the entry into Brazil: Flour; condensed milk; rubber manufactures of article 1023 of the tariff; clocks and watches; inks mentioned in article 173 of the tariff, except writing inks; varnishes; typewriters; refrigerators; pianos; scales; windmills.
  • Art. 2. The decrees to the contrary are hereby revoked.


  • Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves.
  • Leopoldo de Bulhões.
  1. Supra.
  2. Not printed.