660P.1111/5
The Chargé in Latvia (Cole) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received July 21.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s instruction No. 182, dated April 4, 1933, requesting a quarterly report, beginning April 1, 1933, on regulations and acts tending to discriminate against American trade, together with a survey of the Legation’s activities in protecting American trade.
In the course of the June quarter, no new legislation, regulations, or practices which tend to restrict or to discriminate against American trade were enacted or placed in operation.
The Consulate has informed the Legation that during the June quarter no specific instances of discrimination were brought to its attention.
Two instances of discrimination were brought to the Legation’s attention on April 20, 1933, by a local importer of American goods. The facts in these cases are as follows:
- 1.
- An application was made to the Import Regulating Commission for permission to import during the second quarter of 1933, 2000 kilograms of automobile tires and tubes from the United States; 10,000 kilograms from Great Britain; and 3000 kilograms from Canada. Permission was granted to import 6000 kilograms, and all of British origin.
- 2.
- An application was made to the Import Regulating Commission for permission to import during the second quarter of 1933, 3000 kilograms of motor oil from the United States and 3000 kilograms from Great Britain. Permission was granted to import only 3000 kilograms of British origin.
The two instances mentioned above were brought to the attention of the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Legation’s note No. 176, dated April 24, 1933, a copy of which accompanied the Legation’s despatch No. 1314 of April 26, 1933.
With reference to this note, the Legation expressed the hope in its despatch of April 26th that its language would commend itself to the Department. No reply has as yet been received from the Foreign Office to this note. The Department’s observations on the note in question would be appreciated before the Legation undertakes to press the Foreign Office for a reply.
Respectfully yours,