881.512/61
The Italian Ambassador (De Martino) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I have been advised by my Government that the International Administration of the Tangier Zone is desirous of securing the consent of the United States Government to the application to the United States nationals of any legislative measures which may be passed, increasing existing or introducing new taxation. It is particularly anxious to secure such consent in respect of a measure relating to the consumption duties, the early introduction of which is considered to be important.
At the same time I have been instructed to inform you that my Government who have learned that this desire on the part of the Administration is being brought to the notice of the United States Government by the United States Diplomatic Agent at Tangier at the request of the Resident General of the French Protectorate, earnestly hope that the United States Government will see their way to comply with it.
The International Administration of the Tangier Zone feels that the continued immunity of United States nationals from the fiscal measures to be introduced, would inevitably prove an invincible obstacle to the enforcement of those measures, which will be such only as are necessary to ensure the proper administration of the Zone and place its finances on the sound basis which it has not hitherto been possible to attain.
My Government wish to emphasize the fact that the United States Government are in no way being asked to surrender any of the rights which they enjoy in Tangier, and which are fully recognized by the International Administration, and that it would, of course, always be open to them to withhold their consent in any particular instance where they considered that their interests might otherwise be prejudiced.
Accept [etc.]