821.1561/88
The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received April 19.]
Sir: Referring to the Department’s telegram No. 12 of February 13, and Instruction No. 131 of the same date,4 regarding the difficulties of Grace and Company at Buenaventura over a tax imposed by the Colombian Government on their lighter service, I have the honor to report that I have taken up this matter informally with the Colombian authorities, who have promised me to endeavor to find a way to alleviate these charges.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs stated yesterday that he believed it would be possible at least to lighten the burden and possibly to take off the tax entirely temporarily, although the Ministry of Hacienda insists on the legality of the measure, alleging that similar taxes are imposed in the harbor of New York on similar services.
I have [etc.]
- Instruction not printed.↩