693.003/454: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Reinsch)
Your January 18, 7 p.m. and January 23, 6 p.m. Question of the immediate institution of surtax on customs duties or [of?] flat 5 per cent rate now being considered by the Department.
[Page 649]Other questions raised in above mentioned telegrams are answered by Department’s December 13, 6 p.m., which please communicate to Arnold if this has not already been done.
Department disposed to favor valuations based on period 1913 to 1917, inclusive, but believes it would be best to leave such questions to the judgment of the Conference. Policy of the Department is to leave, as far as possible, all questions concerning the revision of the tariff to the Conference. Interference on the part of interested governments, except where necessity seems to make recommendations imperative, will greatly handicap the Delegates in the expeditious and careful handling of their work.