811.114/2080
The Chargé in Cuba (Howell) to the Secretary of State
Habana, October 19,
1923.
[Received October 26.]
No. 398
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the
Department’s instruction No. 128 of October 2, 1923, (file no.
811.114/1933) regarding the arrangement with the Cuban Government
whereby the United States is informed regarding shipments of liquor
leaving Cuban ports presumably for the purpose of being smuggled
into the United States.
In accordance with this instruction, the Cuban Government has been
approached informally, in order to determine whether it would be
disposed to include in this arrangement a provision denying
clearances to vessels carrying cargoes of liquor directly destined
for the United States, since the importation of such cargoes is
against the laws of that country. The Secretary for Foreign Affairs
seemed favorably to consider this provision, but suggested that if
there were a precedent it would help him considerably in presenting
the case to his government. I was able to refer him to the action of
Great Britain, and quoted the extract from the note from the British
Embassy as contained in the fourth paragraph of the instruction
under acknowledgment, which states that “no spirituous liquors are
cleared direct from the United Kingdom to United States ports.”
The arrangement providing for the reciprocal exchange of information
between the governments of the United States and Cuba was arrived at
by a formal exchange of notes, copies of which are attached
hereto.
As to the possibility of Cuba prohibiting in the future the
exportation of liquor on ships of less than 250 tons, nothing
further has been done in this matter, but I believe that should the
Department [Page 260] care to press
the matter, the Cuban Government would be inclined to act
favorably.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure 1]
The Cuban Secretary of State (Céspedes) to the American Ambassador (Crowder)
Habana, July 7,
1923.
No. 721
Mr. Ambassador: In reply to Your
Excellency’s attentive note No. 48 of May twenty-fourth
last,98 in
which you state that your Government will be glad to enter into
a reciprocal agreement with Cuba for the interchange of
information concerning the clearance of vessels, cargoes
carried, consignors and consignees of freight, when such
information is desired by the Government asking for same as an
aid to the enforcement of its own laws, including information
from Cuban collectors of customs concerning ships clearing from
ports of Cuba carrying cargoes of liquor consigned to places
from which it might be smuggled into the United States, I have
the honor to inform Your Excellency that the Government of the
Republic perceives no objection to informing the American
Legation [sic], in compliance with its
request, concerning the clearance of vessels and merchandise for
importation, exportation and coastwise trade, and that the
Government hopes that in exchange for this information which it
is disposed to give, information may be furnished relative to
the clearance of cargoes of narcotic drugs, and other articles
whose entrance into our ports is forbidden.
I have the honor to request that Your Excellency be kind enough
to inform me of the definite resolution made by your government
in the matter treated of in this note, and to inform you that
the exchange of this note and the reply which I hope to receive
from Your Excellency will be sufficient to conclude the
reciprocal agreement between the two governments.
Accept [etc.]
For the Secretary:
G.
Patterson
[Enclosure 2]
The American Chargé (Howell) to the Cuban Secretary of State
(Céspedes)
Habana, August 4,
1923.
No. 68
Excellency: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency’s note No. 721 of
July seventh, in which it is [Page 261] stated that Your Excellency’s Government will
be glad to enter into a reciprocal arrangement with the United
States Government for the exchange of information regarding
clearance of vessels, cargoes carried and consignors and
consignees when such information is desired by the Government
asking for same as an aid to the enforcement of its own
laws.
My Government hereby gives its definite sanction to such an
arrangement and understands the agreement now to be in
effect.
It has been noted that the Cuban Government will be glad to
furnish information from Collectors of Customs concerning ships
clearing from all ports of Cuba carrying cargoes of liquor
consigned to places from which it might be smuggled into the
United States. In conformity with my recent conversation with
the Under Secretary of State, it is understood a plan for
furnishing this information to the American authorities will be
decided upon at a conference to be held within the next few days
between representatives of the Foreign Office, the Treasury
Department and the undersigned.
Accept [etc.]
Williamson S. Howell,
Jr.
