656.11241/6
The Minister in the Netherlands (Diekema) to the Secretary of
State
The
Hague, June 23, 1930.
[Received July
8.]
No. 205
Sir: With reference to the Department’s
instruction No. 40 of March 25th, last, regarding the extension of the
free importation privilege to foreign consular officers on a reciprocal
basis, I have the honor to enclose a copy of my Note No. 52 of April 7th
to the Foreign Office, and a copy and translation of the reply of the
Foreign Office, dated the 17th instant.
The Government of the Netherlands agrees to grant free entry to consular
officers on a reciprocal basis and as soon as it is assured that the
United States Government is definitively in agreement with the
arrangement as described in the above mentioned Note from the Foreign
Office, will issue the necessary orders to put it into practice.
I have the honor to request, therefore, that the Department instruct me
in the premises.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure 1]
The American Minister (Diekema) to the Netherlands Minister for Foreign
Affairs (Beelaerts
van Blokland)
The
Hague, April 7, 1930.
No. 52
Excellency: I have the honor to inform Your
Excellency that the Treasury Department of my Government has
consented to extend the privilege of free importation to Dutch
Consular Officers in the United States. Therefore, in addition to
the free entry of baggage and effects upon arrival and return to
their posts in the United States after visits abroad, which Dutch
consular officers assigned to the United States already enjoy, such
officers who are Dutch nationals and not engaged in any other
business, on a basis of reciprocity would be accorded the privilege
of importing free of duty articles for their personal or family use
at any time during their official residence with the understanding
that no article the importation of which is prohibited by the laws
of the United States shall be imported by them.
The Legation is informed that according to article 19 of the Tariff
Law of the Netherlands (Free Entry Decree, 1925, Article 22–B) free
entry may be accorded to Consular Officers of other powers on the
condition of reciprocity. I should therefore like to propose on a
basis of reciprocity that free entry privileges as outlined above be
granted to American Consular Officers assigned to the Netherlands.
[Page 773] I may add that this
suggestion applies only to Consular Officers as my Government deems
it advisable to limit the free importation privilege to diplomatic
and consular officers and not to extend it to members of clerical
staffs of Legations or Consulates.
I avail myself [etc.]
[Enclosure
2–Translation]
The Netherlands Minister for Foreign
Affairs (Beelaerts
van Blokland) to the
American Minister (Diekema)
The
Hague, June 17, 1930.
Economic Section
No. 18242
Mr. Minister: By Your Note of April 7th,
last, No. 52, Your Excellency informed me that the “Treasury
Department” at Washington has consented, on a basis of reciprocity,
to extend the privilege of free importation already enjoyed
partially by the Dutch Consular Officers in the United States in
such a manner that the Officers of Dutch Nationality who are not
engaged in any other business would be accorded the privilege of
importing articles free of duty for their personal or family use at
any time during their official residence.
Upon the basis of this information and referring to Article 19 of the
Dutch Customs Act of 1924 (Statute No. 568), Your Excellency
proposes that such a privilege, as referred to above, be granted on
the condition of reciprocity by the Government of the United States
and Her Majesty’s Government to the respective Consular Officers
residing in both countries, with the understanding that they comply
with the above-mentioned stipulations.
In reply, after having consulted my colleague, the Minister of
Finance, I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that Her
Majesty’s Government accepts the proposition made. This must be
understood in such manner that, conformable to the last paragraph of
Article 19 of the aforesaid Customs Act of 1924, exemption be
equally accorded to excise and import duties on gold and silver
articles. I add that I do not know if such taxes are collected in
the United States, but, should such be the case, I am convinced that
Your Government would be willing to accord exemption of these taxes
to the Dutch Consular Officers above-mentioned.
I should be obliged if Your Excellency would let me know if the
Government of the United States of America is in agreement with the
foregoing; in that case I would ask my above-mentioned Colleague to
give the necessary instructions so that this arrangement becomes in
force.
I avail myself [etc.]
For the Minister:
The Secretary
General,
A. M. Snouck
Hurgronje
