811.841 Russia/50
The Acting Secretary of State to the Soviet Chargé (Shvirsky)
Sir: Referring to your recent conversations with the Chief of the Division of Eastern European Affairs with regard to the question of the removal of the discriminating tonnage duties now imposed on American vessels in ports of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and on vessels of the. Soviet Union in American ports, I am enclosing for your information copies of proclamations issued by the President of the United States of America discontinuing discriminating tonnage duties and imposts in respect to Finnish, German, and Hungarian vessels and the produce, manufactures, and merchandise imported in such vessels.37
The Department of State will recommend to the President the issue of a similar proclamation suspending and discontinuing discriminating tonnage duties and imposts within the United States in respect to vessels of the Soviet Union or the produce, manufactures, or merchandise imported therein upon receiving satisfactory proof that no discriminating duties of tonnage or imposts are levied in the waters of the Soviet Union on American vessels or produce, manufactures, or merchandise imported therein. The Department would consider as satisfactory proof of the abolition of the discriminating tonnage duties now levied on American vessels in ports of the Soviet Union the communication to this Government of orders or regulations issued by your Government discontinuing the levy of discriminating tonnage duties on American vessels in the waters of the Soviet Union.
I may add that the suspension of the discriminating tonnage duties and imposts in respect to Soviet vessels and the cargoes imported therein will be made effective from the date of the receipt of satisfactory proof that discriminating tonnage duties and imposts are not imposed by the Soviet Union on American vessels, or upon the produce, manufactures, or merchandise imported therein from the United States or from any foreign country.
Accept [etc.]
- These proclamations were dated February 19, 1926; March 22, 1922; and January 15, 1923. See, respectively, 44 Stat. 2601; 42 Stat. 2267 and 2293.↩