My Greek, French, German and Italian colleagues have sent similar
notes to the Foreign Office. I understand that the Residency will
likewise take action although I am unable to state in exactly what
form.
As the matter is of particular interest to two American steamship
lines—the Export Line whose vessels call at Alexandria once each
week, and the Dollar Line whose vessels call once every fortnight—I
venture to hope that the Department will approve of my action.
[Enclosure]
The American
Legation to the Egyptian
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
No. 312
The Legation of the United States of America presents its
compliments to the Royal Egyptian Ministry for Foreign Affairs
and has the honor to draw the attention of the Royal Ministry to
the conditions affecting the steamship companies serving
Alexandria which are the result of the high port dues and
charges applicable to commercial vessels.
The scale of these dues and charges was established in 1877. At
that time the average tonnage of ships which touched at the port
of Alexandria was not greater than 2,000 tons, while at the
present time the average is 5,000 tons and many ships carrying
mail which have weekly services exceed 7,000 tons.
In 1929 a reduction of 40% in the light-house dues occurred, but
for a ship of 5,000 tons this decrease represents a reduction of
the order of six pounds only, whereas the amount of the charges
payable for a vessel of this tonnage amounts to more than 220
pounds.
Moreover, although since 1920 the port dues have been reduced by
50% for tourist ships, this relief applies only to a small
minority of the vessels calling at Alexandria, practically all
of which continue to pay the charges established in 1877.
It thus appears that the dues levied upon shipping no longer
correspond to the present situation and call for a readjustment.
In point of fact, these charges are at the present time higher
than in all principal Mediterranean and European ports and, in
consequence, constitute a serious handicap to shipowners whose
vessels use Alexandria [Page 657]
and particularly to steamship companies whose vessels give
regular services and which make frequent, in many cases weekly,
calls.
Consequently the Legation of the United States of America would
be grateful if the Ministry for Foreign Affairs would be good
enough to explain this situation to the Ministry of Finance—a
situation which has already been the subject of correspondence
exchanged between the President of the Chambre Internationale de
Navigation d’Alexandrie and that Department—requesting it to
examine the possibility of a reduction in shipping charges in
the port of Alexandria.
It should further be observed that measures taken in this sense,
while permitting the shipping companies to continue regular
services to Alexandria under normal conditions, in the end would
be favorable to the city of Alexandria, which would thus avoid
an eventual diminution in its maritime traffic to the benefit of
other Near Eastern ports which are infinitely cheaper.
Finally, and without prejudice to a general reduction in the
present dues, it would appear just to adopt, after the example
of numerous other ports, a reduced tariff for vessels which
regularly touch at Alexandria and which consequently contribute
to the economic development of Egypt in a very special
manner.
In asking the Royal Ministry to be good enough to draw the
attention of the Ministry of Finance in particular to this last
point, the Legation of the United States of America, etc.
Laurens, Ramleh
, September 13,
1932.
