File No. 893.512/74
Minister Reinsch to
the Secretary of State
No. 1330
American Legation,
Peking,
January 3, 1917.
Sir; Referring to the telegraphic instruction
of December 20, 1915, 5 p.m.,50
replying to the Legation’s despatch (No. 807) of October 29, 1915,51 on the subject
of the applicability of the stamp taxes enacted by the Chinese
Government, I have the honor to enclose herewith a translation of a note
(No. 549) under date of the 26th ultimo in which the Minister for
Foreign Affairs communicated for the information of this Legation a
report on the subject received from the Chinese Minister in
Washington.
In particular reference to the statement that
an instruction has been sent to the Minister to
China to enter into negotiations to request the amendment of the
stamp tax law, so that Americans in China will be more willing
to pay the tax,
I beg to inquire whether the reference is to the
Department’s No. 90 of May 4, 1914,52
directing that, in the event of approval of the regulations by the other
Treaty Powers, an endeavor should be made to secure such a revision as
would make them more acceptable to residents in China.
In this connection I have to report that no collective action on this
matter has been taken up by the Diplomatic Body subsequent to what has
already been reported to the Department, and that the Legation is not
aware of any action having been taken in reference to it by individual
nations, save such as indicated in the enclosed translation of note from
the Foreign Office dated December 26 last.
Pending the receipt of a reply to this despatch, the Legation is making
no response to the note from the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
I have [etc.]
[Page 240]
[Inclosure—Translation]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Minister Reinsch
No. 549
December 26,
1916.
Sir: Referring to the matter of the
extension of the operation of the stamp tax I have the honor to
state that a despatch has been received from the Chinese Minister at
Washington as follows:
A reply has been received from the American Department of State on
this subject as follows:
“In reference to the matter of the extension of the operation
of the stamp tax, an inquiry was received from the Minister
to China, to which an answer was sent, stating that this
Government accepts in principle the collection of the tax by
the Chinese Government from Americans in China. An
instruction has been sent to the Minister to China to enter
into negotiations to request the amendment of the stamp tax
law, so that Americans in China will be more willing to pay
the tax. After the Governments of the different countries
have all granted their consent it can be put into
force.”
This Ministry is most grateful for the kind assistance of
your Government. The Governments of Portugal and Brazil have
now severally given their consent to the enforcement of the
tax. The Governments of the other nations have not yet
replied formally stating what views they take regarding this
matter. This Ministry has now addressed separate notes to
the Ministers of the said Powers at Peking, requesting that
they urge their respective Governments to express their
agreement at an early date and to send a reply.
I am accordingly addressing this note to you for your
information and cooperation. Upon receipt of replies from
the Governments of the other nations I will again address
you in order that negotiations may be facilitated.
With compliments.
