693.003/548: Telegram
The Minister in China (Reinsch) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received February 25, 12.45 p.m.]
Your February 19th, 3 p.m. My telegram January 18th, 1 p.m. Final report was forwarded to you and Department of Commerce December 28th in the form of pamphlet of 38 pages with the title “Draft of revised import tariff” and a separate sheet, page 39, containing three rules of administration.
Japanese and Dutch Legation[s] are ready to approve now. British and French momentarily awaiting instructions from home Government. The attitude of the representatives to the Conference is that the revision is an administrative act for the purpose of [conserving] the principal of a 5 per cent tariff provided for by treaty; [Page 657] in the absence of an effective machinery for the assessments of a 5 per cent ad valorem tariff by the customs administration prices of commodities are fixed over a certain period so as to obtain a concrete basis for assessing 5 per cent duty.