611.3931/14a
The Secretary of State to the Dominican Minister (Ariza)
Sir: I have the honor to make the following statement of my understanding of the agreement reached through recent conversations held at Washington by representatives of the Government of the United States and the Government of the Dominican Republic with reference to the treatment which the United States shall accord to the commerce of the Dominican Republic and which the Dominican Republic shall accord to the commerce of the United States.
These conversations have disclosed a mutual understanding between the two Governments which is that, in respect to import, [Page 668] export and other duties and charges affecting commerce, as well as in respect to transit, warehousing and other facilities, the United States will accord to the Dominican Republic and the Dominican Republic will accord to the United States, its territories and possessions, unconditional most-favored-nation treatment.
It is understood that
No higher or other duties shall be imposed on the importation into or disposition in the United States, its territories or possessions, of any articles the produce or manufacture of the Dominican Republic than are or shall be payable on like articles the produce or manufacture of any foreign country;
No higher or other duties shall be imposed on the importation into of disposition in the Dominican Republic of any articles the produce or manufacture of the United States, its territories or possessions than are or shall be payable on like articles the produce or manufacture of any foreign country;
Similarly, no higher or other duties shall be imposed in the United States, its territories or possessions, or in the Dominican Republic on the exportation of any articles to the other, or to any territory or possession of the other, than are payable on the exportation of like articles to any foreign country;
Every concession with respect to any duty or charge affecting commerce now accorded or that may hereafter be accorded by the United States or by the Dominican Republic, by law, proclamation, decree or commercial treaty or agreement, to the products of any third country will become immediately applicable without request and without compensation to the commerce of the Dominican Republic and of the United States, its territories and possessions, respectively:
Provided that this understanding does not relate to
- (1)
- The treatment which the United States accords or may hereafter accord to the commerce of Cuba or any of the territories or possessions of the United States or the Panama Canal Zone, or to the treatment which is or may hereafter be accorded to the commerce of the United States with any of its territories or possessions or to the commerce of its territories or possessions with one another;
- (2)
- Prohibitions or restrictions of a sanitary character or designed to protect human, animal or plant life or regulations for the enforcement of police or revenue laws.
The present arrangement shall become operative on the day of signature and, unless sooner terminated by mutual agreement, shall continue in force until thirty days after notice of its termination shall have been given by either party; but should either party be prevented by future action of its legislature from carrying out the terms of this arrangement, the obligations thereof shall thereupon lapse.
[Page 669]I shall be glad to have your confirmation of the accord thus reached.
Accept [etc.]