121.5756/1
The Minister in the Netherlands ( Tobin ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 14.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Department’s Instruction No. 226, of April 21, 1925,60 directing me to inform the Netherlands Government of the appointment of certain Customs Attachés and Assistant Customs Attachés to this Legation and to request their recognition in their respective capacities by the appropriate authorities. In making this notification, I was directed to state the general duties of these Attachés and my best efforts were desired in explaining their duties to the Netherlands authorities.
I did not fail to carry out your instructions to the fullest extent but regret to inform you that, in answer to my representations, I have been informed by a communication from the Netherlands Foreign Office copies and translations of which are enclosed herewith,61 that it seems difficult to the Netherlands Government to bring the duties outlined in Section 402 of the United States Tariff Act of 1902 [1922], which are incumbent upon the “Customs Attaché” and his assistants within the compass of the functions of diplomatic agents. The Netherlands Government furthermore believes that considerations of a general nature seem to be opposed to granting an extension of the functions recognized by International Law as those belonging to members of the Diplomatic Corps, and regrets that it finds it impossible to accede to my request that these officials be attached to this Legation.
I have [etc.]