File No. 832.73/136
The Consul General at Rio de Janeiro ( Gottschalk) to the Secretary of State
Sir: Referring to my despatch No. 1022 of November 28, 1917,1 I have the honor to report as follows:
By decree No. 12,845 of January 17, 1918, published on page 1033 of the Diario Official (Official Gazette) of January 19, 1918, the President of Brazil, in answer to a petition of the Western Telegraph Co., Ltd., alleging the refusal of the Treasury Department to register the contract between this company and the Government (which contract was entered into on December 7, 1917, in virtue of decree No. 12,688 of October 24, 19172), has now decreed as follows:
Clause 22 of decree No. 12,688 shall be amended to read as follows:
The company will enjoy all the advantages granted to similar companies and enterprises excepting the privilege of exemption of customs duties.
I have [etc.]