681.003/41
The American Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Tangier (Blake) to the French Resident General in Morocco (Saint) 8
Mr. Resident General: I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that my attention has been drawn to the publication in the local press and in the Bulletin Officiel of the French Protectorate, of a Dahir dated January 30, 1933, which purports to institute “Compensation Taxes” upon certain products and merchandise imported into the French Zone of Morocco, in addition to the Customs duties as defined by the treaties.
The terms of this Dahir appear to be in direct violation of specific provisions of the Act of Algeciras and of anterior treaties confirmed thereby, and I therefore have no option but to register my formal protest [Page 970] in regard thereto, and to make the fullest reservations for the protection of the interests of American nationals and ressortissants, which may be affected by any attempt to apply to them the provisions of the Dahn referred to.
Whatever justification the Protectorate Government may desire to advance in reference to measures for the prevention of dumping, it is obvious that no legislation for this purpose can be applied to American nationals or protégés in Morocco, unless and until such regulations shall have received the formal assent of the Government of the United States of America, as signatory of the Act of Algeciras.
Please accept [etc.]
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Tangier in his despatch No. 813, February 16; received March 9.↩