Office of the Historian

893.512/667: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham)

Washington, September 17, 1927—4 p.m.

Your September 9, 2 p.m. to the Legation.56 Telegraph whether other consulates are actually receiving treaty duties and other charges and if so the procedure adopted for their safekeeping and final accounting to Chinese Government.

Do you consider it feasible for the Consulate General to perform similar service for American citizens and can such services be performed without ultimately having to provide facilities for the performance of customs functions by the Consulate General.

Since the so-called Washington surtax is not regarded by this Government as authorized, would British authorities release American goods stored in British godowns on your certificate that treaty duties, wharfage and conservancy dues had been deposited with you? What is status of suit filed in United States Court for China mentioned in your telegram under acknowledgment?

Carr
  1. See supra.↩