Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1929, Volume II

893.512/946

The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Consul at Tsingtao (Dorsey)⁴⁵

Peking, March 12, 1929.

Sir: I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 275, of February 15, 1929,⁴⁶ and No. 276, of February 21, 1929, in regard to existing discrimination against American interests in the collection of customs surtaxes at Tsingtao.

You should make a formal protest to the local authorities against the non-payment by the Japanese of this surtax, which constitutes a discrimination against American interests, and at the same time you are authorized to use your good offices with the Customs Surtax Bureau to the end that all merchandise contracted for by American interests for export prior to the date of the promulgation of the surtaxes should be exempted from its operation.

I am [etc.]

J. V. A. MacMurray

45. Copy transmitted to the Department by the Minister in his despatch No. 1965, March 12; received April 15, 1929.
46. Not printed.