893.512/602: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 12—6:45 a.m.]
724. Legation’s 720, July 11, 7 p.m. With reference to his inquiry as to the attitude to be taken toward the imposition of the luxury surtax Cunningham was instructed as follows:
“For your information it may be stated that luxury surtax comrising substantially the list tentatively agreed upon at the Customs inference has been collected for some time generally believed [sic] in Northern ports under National control. The attitude of the Department has been that we should acquiesce tacitly in the collection of what is in substance equivalent of the Washington surtaxes.
3. [sic] The American Chamber of Commerce is of course within its rights in protesting against any taxation imposed in violation of treaty rights of American citizens. I do not, however, consider that the chamber would be well advised to protest against such taxation on imports as may be properly considered as the equivalent of the Washington surtaxes.”