893.51/5316: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
534. Legation’s 529, July 1, 7 p.m. Following telegram is being sent to the Minister at Shanghai:
“July 2, 6 p.m. For the Minister: Legation’s July 1, 6 p.m.
- 1.
- Following are pertinent portions of mail despatch July 1,
1930, from American Consul General at Tientsin.
‘… American Steamship Golden Horn of the States Steamship Company has arrived today at Taku Bar and as her tonnage certificate has expired it is necessary that she obtain a new certificate at this port. Article 22 of the treaty of 1858 provides that “the tonnage duty on vessels of the United States shall be paid on their being admitted to entry”. Tonnage [dues] certificates issued in China are valid for a period of four months for entry of the ship in any Chinese port.
The Golden Horn is due at Shanghai about July 5th. She then proceeds to Yangtze River ports.
It is reported here that the Nationalist Government customs authorities at other ports will not recognize tonnage dues certificates issued at Tientsin and require the second payment of such dues upon entry of ships at such ports. (On the other hand, the Shansi customs regime at Tientsin is carefully observing the treaty stipulations and accepting tonnage dues certificates issued at other ports.)
[Page 266]Unless, meanwhile, the customs situation at Tientsin is settled by some compromise arrangement, demand will probably be made for a second payment of tonnage dues.
At the instance of the States Steamship Company, I report this matter to the Legation and request that, if the Legation considers it appropriate to do so, instructions be issued to the Consul General at Shanghai to support the protest of the master and agents of the Golden Horn against any attempt to impose tonnage dues a second time at Shanghai since in accordance with the treaty such dues have been paid at Tientsin and tonnage dues certificates are valid for a period of four months for entry of the ship in any China port open to trade.
It would appear that such protest would be entirely justified under paragraph 3 of the Department’s message Number 204 [212] of June 26, 4 p.m. to the Legation, portions of which were communicated to me by the Legation’s confidential instruction of June 28, 1930.’
- 2.
- It is suggested that Gauss’ recommendation is in conformity with the Department’s instruction referred to and that the Legation be authorized to instruct the Consul General at Shanghai in accordance therewith.”
- Telegram in three sections.↩