693.9431/30
The Consul at Mukden ( Myers ) to the Minister in China ( MacMurray )52
Sir: With reference to my despatch No. 192, of March 5, 1929, regarding the special duty reduction treatment and export surtaxes [Page 807] at Antung and to my political review for March, dated April 13, 1929,53 in which reference was made to the Japanese attitude toward the export surtaxes at Newchwang, I have the honor to state that the export surtaxes are not being paid by Japanese shippers at Newchwang. Privately I have learned that as a result of the Japanese Government’s objection to these surtaxes the Customs accept from Japanese exporters the export duty only and stamp all documents issued to them “Document issued under protest”. It is understood that the Japanese Consulate, Newchwang, officially notified the Commissioner of Customs that unless the Customs accepted the regular export duty only from Japanese exporters Japanese steamers would be cleared without Customs nonobjection papers. The above is the same arrangement as obtains at Antung.
All other exporters pay the surtaxes in accordance with an arrangement forced on the Customs by the Superintendent of Customs and the Chinese merchants whereby the amount of the surtaxes is deposited to the joint account of the Superintendent and the Commissioner of Customs pending the decision of the Central and Mukden Governments concerning the imposition of these additional duties. As long as the Japanese Government maintains the present attitude toward these surtaxes their enforcement against shippers of other nationalities would be discriminatory and therefore objectionable. Consequently, it is believed that their cancellation is to be expected until such time as their payment is enforceable against all shippers.
It may be added that although there are no American shippers through the port of Newchwang shipments are sent through that port to the United States by exporters of other nationalities.
I have [etc.]