811.114 Belgium/258
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Phillips)
The Belgian Ambassador handed me this morning the accompanying note verbale,19 which, after referring to the efforts of the Belgian Government in the case of the Hillfern, informs us that a decision has been reached to study the legislation for the suppression of this liquor smuggling.
The Ambassador said that he had discussed the whole subject this morning with the Secretary of the Treasury and had advised him of [Page 419] his Government’s decision in this respect; he hoped that we would send over to the Treasury, as soon as possible, a copy, in translation, of his note verbale, which I assured him we would do.
The Ambassador then asked for copies of our laws to prevent smuggling from United States territory. I said that I did not have these available, but I handed him copies of the French and Mexican laws governing this illegal traffic.
The Ambassador asked whether I could give him any information with regard to any legislation on this subject in The Netherlands. I replied that we had been officially advised by that Government that legislation had been drafted and would soon be introduced into the States General, amending the present law governing the export of alcohol, in order to exercise a better control over shipments originating in The Netherlands and destined for fraudulent importation into the United States. I expressed great satisfaction that the Belgian Government would take similar action and I hoped for speedy results.
Meanwhile I said that reports had come to us that the firm of Meeus Company had concentrated large amounts of alcohol in Antwerp for re-shipment to the United States and I hoped that the Belgian Government could do something to prevent this being done. I said that it appeared that the Hillfern stock of liquor was being disposed of in Holland for local consumption,19a but that we were watching carefully this huge concentration of liquor in Antwerp.
It is evident that the Ambassador is very much concerned about the whole matter. He mentioned that Meeus Company are very powerful and that it is quite possible that members of Parliament from Antwerp and other influential persons might have an interest in the company. He reiterated that he was doing everything he could and would continue to do so.
- Infra. ↩
- In undated telegram received May 23 and telegram dated May 28, the Consul at Rotterdam informed the Department that the Hillfern had arrived at Rotterdam on May 23 and departed on May 28 without cargo, all alcohol aboard having been unloaded and sold to a local firm (811.114 Hillfern/133, 143).↩