701.0645/2
The Secretary of State to Mr. William Phillips, Personal Representative of President Roosevelt in India
Sir: Reference is made to the Mission’s despatch no. 31 of September 7, 1942,64 entitled “Exemptions accorded Mission”, with which was enclosed a copy of a note from the External Affairs Department of the Government of India listing certain exemptions granted to you and the officers of your staff.
With respect to free entry privileges and exemption from customs duties enjoyed by the Agent General for India at this capital and the members of his staff, reference is made to the Department’s telegram no. 679 of November 25, 1942.65
With reference to exemptions from taxes, you are informed that the Agent General for India and the officers of his staff whose names appear in the Diplomatic List are granted free diplomatic automobile license plates and free drivers’ licenses. They are also exempted from payment of personal property tax on their automobiles and other property. Subordinate and clerical employees whose names are included in the List of Employees in the Embassies and Legations in Washington not Printed in the Diplomatic List do not receive free license plates but are exempted from the personal property tax on their automobiles and other property if they are not American citizens.
The Agent General for India and the members of his staff, including the subordinate and clerical employees who are not American citizens, are also exempted from the annual Federal use tax on automobiles.
Some months ago the rule to permit diplomatic and consular officers and subordinate and clerical employees of embassies and legations to obtain motor fuel free of tax was rescinded. Exemption from the Federal tax has now been restored. The Department of State is endeavoring to obtain restoration of the exemption from the District of Columbia tax on motor fuel for such persons.
The Agent General for India and the members of his staff, including subordinate and clerical employees who are not American citizens, also enjoy exemption from the various Federal manufacturers’ excise taxes and the retailers’ excise taxes. They also enjoy exemption from the tax on the transportation of persons and from the taxes on telephone, telegraph, and radio and cable messages.
[Page 234]Exemption from similar taxes in India should be requested for the members of your mission.
Very truly yours,