611.5231/720

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Laughlin)

No. 328

Sir: With reference to the Department’s instruction No. 277 of April 29, 1932,25 concerning the item of the Spanish trade complaints which involved materials used in stringing or braiding Spanish garlic, I now enclose a copy of the Department’s note of this date to the Spanish Ambassador25 informing him that this case appears to have been satisfactorily adjusted.

A summary of the situation with respect to the entire series of Spanish trade complaints follows; (see Department’s telegram No. 29, May 7, 2 p.m.).

  • Group 1. Eight complaints regarding administrative regulations and requirements. Four (mineral water, pimientos, tinned fish and braiding on garlic) adjusted. Further information requested and not yet received regarding pharmaceutical products. No reply received from the Spanish Government regarding our answer to their request concerning Canary Island potatoes. A note was sent to the Spanish Ambassador in Washington concerning Almeria grapes last June (copy to the Embassy at Madrid on June 21 [22], 1932.25 This note has been acknowledged by the Spanish Ambassador, but [Page 556] the Department has not been informed as to whether the Spanish Government desires that a further inspection and investigation be made in Almeria during the coming autumn by an entomologist of the American Department of Agriculture. A confidential reference to the position of the American Government regarding the cork marking requirement appears in paragraph four of the Department’s telegram No. 29 referred to above.
  • Group 2. Alleged simulation of Spanish labels and names. The Department hopes to be able to reply in the near future to the Spanish Ambassador regarding certain labels to which the Embassy objected.
  • Group 3. Tariff questions. Six complaints against the height of the American tariff. In so far as the Department is aware, no effort has been made by the Spanish Embassy since the joint discussions last March to initiate action before the Tariff Commission for the purpose of seeking reductions.

Very truly yours,

For the Secretary of State:
James Grafton Rogers
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