693.003/864: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
884. Department’s 404, December 11, 2 p.m. and 407, Dec[ember] 11, 6 p.m.87
- 1.
- Following from Shanghai:
“December 19, 11 a.m. Since it is problematical as to whether or not ratifications88 can be exchanged before January 1st (see my December 6, [5] p.m.89) it does not seem that new tariff will become effective February 1st. On Monday the Customs gave public notice in the press that new customs import tariff [would be] put into force on February 1st. Legation’s instruction as to advice to be given to American inquirers is earnestly solicited.”
- 2.
- I should appreciate very much being informed as to the likelihood of the tariff treaty being ratified by January 1st and I also request to be notified by cable should the Senate adjourn for the holidays without ratification and also of the date of the presentation of the Chinese instrument of ratification.
- 3.
- Should the exchange of ratifications not take place by January 1, and should the Chinese insist upon putting into effect the new schedules on February 1, we should be confronted by a situation in which the present Nationalist Government would be violating the terms of a treaty which that Government itself had but recently [Page 396] concluded. In this case I suggest that we should enter a pro forma protest against the imposition of the new schedules.
- 4.
- Reuter telegram just received states that the Dutch, Portuguese, and British treaties were signed last night.90 British Chargé states that treaty deals solely with the tariff and is the same as our treaty with the addition of an exchange of notes relating to most-favored-nation treatment specifying British goods as well as importations of British goods by British nationals.
I have no information as to the attitude which may be adopted by other governments toward the imposition of the new schedules on February 1st; but in view of the fact that no agreement has yet been reached with Japan, I consider it very likely that Japanese opposition may bring about a postponement of the date of actual enforcement.
- Telegram in three sections.↩
- Latter not printed.↩
- See section on treaty between the United States and China regulating tariff relations, signed July 25, 1928, pp. 449 ff.↩
- Not printed.↩
- For texts of treaties, see League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. cxi, p. 161; vol. cvii, p. 93; and vol. xc, p. 337.↩