Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1907, (In two parts), Part I

File No. 551/78.

Chargé Fletcher to the Secretary of State.

American Legation,
Peking,November 2, 1907.

No. 778.]

Sir: Referring to Mr. RockhilPs No. 703 of August 19^a and No. 722 of September 11 last I have the honor to report that a settlement of the Northern Manchurian customs question has been reached by the Russian minister and the Waiwu Pu, in accordance with which goods upon entering the railway zone will pay two-thirds of the regular import duty; if transported from this zone and the fixed areas into Manchuria they will pay an additional one-third of the import duty, and if transported thence into China proper they will be subject to a surtax equal to one-half of the full duty. This arrangement to be in force for one year. A joint commission is at present arranging the details at Harbin, and its is expected that customs collections will begin to be made very soon. A commissioner of the imperial maritime customs has already been ordered north to inaugurate the service.

I have, etc.,

Henry P. Fletcher.

1. Not printed.