611B.00241/5
The Secretary of State to the Norwegian Minister (Bachke)
Sir: I have the honor to refer to previous correspondence concerning the customs status of Norwegian consular officers in colonies and possessions of the United States under the agreement recently effected between the Norwegian and American Governments providing for the extension of the free importation privilege on a reciprocal basis to the consular officers of each in the country of the other.
The Department is now in receipt of a letter dated June 16, 1932, from the Secretary of War transmitting a copy of a radiogram from the Governor General of the Philippine Islands on this subject which reads as follows:
“Your 277. Official Consular supplies consigned by foreign governments to Consular representatives in Philippines as such are admitted free of duty. All consuls of foreign governments assigned to Philippine Islands are given full courtesies of port upon arrival and baggage and personal effects are not examined. We cannot agree to free admission of articles subsequently imported for personal use of Consular officials and their families and suites.”
Therefore, in addition to the free entry of their baggage and effects upon arrival and return to their posts after leave of absence spent abroad, the privilege of importing articles for their personal use free of duty during official residence will be enjoyed by Norwegian consular officers stationed in the continental United States and all dependencies of the United States with the exception of the Philippine Islands.
Accept [etc.]