893.512/794
The Legation in China to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs 36
[No.] 00548
The American Legation presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has the honor to inform that Ministry of the receipt by it of letters from the American Chambers of Commerce in Peking and Tientsin, in which those bodies point out that the Luxury and Special Articles Tax, which it is proposed to put in force in Peking, will contravene the provisions of the treaties now in force and will adversely affect American trade. Accordingly, the American Legation has the honor very earnestly to request that the intention to put into effect this tax, which will injure American trade and violate existing treaty rights of American merchants, be abandoned.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Minister in China, without covering despatch; received April 6.↩