Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1931, Volume II

656.11241/6

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in the Netherlands ( Diekema )

Washington , August 20, 1930.

No. 87

Sir: The receipt is acknowledged of your despatch No. 205 dated June 23, 1930, concerning the extension of the free importation privilege on a reciprocal basis to American and Dutch consular officers in the country of the other.

The Treasury Department has advised this Department that no excise tax is assessed on gold or silver articles imported for personal or family use. The Department has, therefore, addressed a note, a copy of which is enclosed,² to the Netherland Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at Washington, informing him that, effective at once, on the conditions set forth and upon the request of the Netherland Legation in each instance, the Department will arrange for the duty free admission of articles imported for their personal use by Dutch consular officers assigned to the United States and the members of their families.

You are requested to advise the Netherland Foreign Office accordingly, with a view to arranging for the extension of similar privileges to American Consular Officers assigned to the Netherlands.

I am [etc.]

W. R. Castle, Jr.

2. Supra.