633.113/25
The Minister in Uruguay (Lay) to the
Secretary of State
No. 277
Montevideo, July 10, 1936.
[Received July
18.]
Sir: Referring to my despatch No. 269 of June
26th and previous despatches with reference to the practice of Uruguayan
Customs in levying on certain merchandise customs duties lower than have
been levied on like merchandise from the United States, I have the honor
to enclose herewith copy and translation of a note dated June 29, 1936
from the Foreign Office, quoting a letter from the Bank of the Republic
in which that institution, to which my representations were referred,
still fails to satisfy the Legation’s complaint that many articles of
American origin actually pay higher customs duties than [Page 949] those collected on like articles from
other countries resulting from the practice of converting that portion
of Uruguayan customs duties payable in gold at differential rates
according to the origin and nature of the importation.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Uruguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Espalier) to the American
Minister (Lay)
Montevideo, June 29, 1936.
Mr. Minister: Referring to the first
portion of Your Excellency’s Note No. 53, of April 27 last,16 I have the honor to quote you the
report submitted by the Bank of the Republic, to which the matter
had been referred:
“Within the limits permitting import quotas fixed for the
different countries, the Bank determines which shall be the
merchandise that may be included in and benefited by such
quotas, taking into preferential consideration for such
discrimination the items most indispensable to meet the
present needs of the country. In accordance with this
principle, the Bank has included in the quota for the
present quarter granted to the United States all classes of
goods except automobiles, spun goods, crepe rubber, radios,
electrical appliances, electrical refrigerators, and
domestic electrical appliances, without prejudice to the
fact that as the availability of exchange for that country
increases, as is presumed it will, in the new quotas to be
fixed provision will be made for other articles which for
the time being have been excluded, it being very probable
that in the very near future the importation of all classes
of goods without any limitation whatever may be
authorized.”
I reiterate [etc.]
For the Minister:
Luis
Guillot
Director
General
