893.512/855

The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham)60

Sir: I beg leave, adverting to your despatch No. 5550, of July 10, 1928, and your radio message No. 251, of August 2, 1 p.m.,61 both concerning the surtax on imported coal imposed at Shanghai, to inform you that although this tax is nominally a consumption tax, from the fact, as stated in your despatch, that it is imposed on coal imported by an American firm, it appears to the Legation that it partakes of the nature of a surtax on imports. For this reason you are authorized, should such a course now appear to you advisable, to enter a protest against its imposition.

I am [etc.]

J. V. A. MacMurray
  1. Copy transmitted to the Department by the Chargé in China in his despatch No. 1608, August 13; received September 15.
  2. Neither printed.