893.841 Surtax/15: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 1—4:50 a.m.]
780. Legation’s 771, July 29, 3 p.m. Following from the American consul, Shanghai:
“Referring to my telegram on tonnage dues, I desire to advise that Shipping Board left to its local representative the decision of clearing Patrick Henry through consulate, or paying surtax under protest. It has decided to pay, which decision virtually closes the question locally, unless success attends our protest to Chinese Nationalist Government. This action following so closely upon the resolutions reported in my July 28, 6 p.m. is rather unexpected.
The French and American consuls called upon the Commissioner of Foreign Affairs yesterday to press protest against tonnage surtaxes, [Page 446] whereupon, the Commissioner informed us that he and C. C. Wu97 urged the Minister of Finance to abolish this surtax and that he would today discuss it again with the Minister of Finance who is in Shanghai. The Commissioner requested me to furnish him with comparative statement of tonnage dues of many ports throughout the world and stated his belief that surtax here will be suspended.”
- Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Nationalist Government at Nanking from May 10, 1927.↩