858.843/7
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Sweden ( Crocker )
Sir: There are enclosed for your consideration copies of the following correspondence concerning apparently discriminatory charges assessed against American yachts calling at Swedish ports, particularly in the case of the yacht Cyprus which arrived at Stockholm on July 3, 1929:—despatch from the American Consul General, Stockholm, September 5, 1929; letters from Department of Commerce, September 27 and November 21, 1929, and letter to Department of Commerce, October 31, 1929.23
[Page 846]You are accordingly authorized to invite the attention of the Swedish authorities to the charges assessed against the Cyprus, and to state that, pending ratification of the proposed treaty of friendship, commerce and consular rights between the United States and Sweden, this Government would appreciate an agreement on the part of the Swedish Government to accord to American yachts in Swedish ports treatment in the matter of the payment of various port charges reciprocal to that which is now enjoyed by Swedish vessels calling at ports of the United States. If deemed advisable in this connection, the provisions of the statutes of the United States for the collection of tonnage and light dues, (U. S. Code, Title 46, Secs. 121 and 128), as well as for the suspension of these charges in behalf of vessels of foreign countries which accord national treatment to vessels of the United States, may be cited for the information of the Swedish authorities.
I am [etc.]
- None printed.↩