811.114/2080
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Cuba ( Howell )
Sir: The Department has received your despatch No. 398 of October 19, 1923, regarding the arrangement with the Cuban Government whereby the United States is informed regarding shipments of liquor leaving Cuban ports presumably for the purpose of being smuggled into the United States. You state that the Cuban Secretary for Foreign Affairs seemed favorably disposed to include in the arrangement a provision denying clearances to vessels carrying cargoes of liquor directly destined for the United States since the importation of such cargoes is against the laws of this country.
With respect to the possibility of Cuba prohibiting in the future the exportation of liquor on ships of less than 250 tons, you state that nothing further has been done in this matter, but that you believe that should the Department press the matter the Cuban Government would be inclined to act favorably.
You are instructed to report whether the Cuban Government will agree to include a provision in the arrangement whereby clearances will be denied to vessels carrying cargoes of liquor directly destined for the United States.
With respect to the possibility of Cuba prohibiting in the future the exportation of liquor on ships of less than 250 tons, the Department encloses a copy of circular No. 275–C issued on September 19, [Page 262] 1923, by the Canadian Commissioner of Customs and Excise to Collectors of Customs and Excise in Canada.99 You will observe that this circular contains the following regulation:
“No intoxicating liquors imported into Canada and no intoxicating liquors subject to duties of excise and on which such duties of excise have not been paid, may be exported from Canada in bond in any vessel under the burthen of two hundred tons gross registered tonnage.”
You will bring the enclosed copy of Circular 275–C to the attention of the Cuban authorities and inquire whether they would be disposed to issue a similar regulation to Cuban Collectors of Customs and Excise.
I am [etc.]
- Not printed.↩