681.003/47
The American Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Tangier (Blake) to the French Resident General in Morocco (Saint)9
Mr. Resident General: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency’s Note No. 75–D of March 8, 1933, on the subject of my protest and reservations concerning the Dahir of January [Page 971] 30, 1933, which purports to institute compensatory taxes on certain imported merchandise, in conflict with the provisions of the Act of Algeciras and of the treaties confirmed in that Act.
With respect to Your Excellency’s remarks on the Vizirial Decree of February 20, 1933, issued in virtue of the Dahir in question, I would observe, firstly that equal freedom of trade with Morocco is assured by the Act of Algeciras for all nations, and secondly that the Act of Algeciras itself provides for the treatment in the Customs of merchandise which it is attempted to clear at prices manifestly below normal values.
Moreover, the Dahir and the Vizirial Decree referred to violate, even in regard to the Powers signatory of the Act of Algeciras, treaty provisions which give their nationals in Morocco the right to import goods or produce from any country, without the imposition on such goods, of duties or taxation in excess of those imposed on similar products of any other origin.
In these conditions it is obvious that the terms of the Vizirial Decree do not in any manner modify the objectionable character of the legislation impugned in my representations of February 8, 1933, and I have no option but to reiterate the protest and to confirm the reservations set forth in my communication of that date.
In conclusion I would advise Your Excellency that I am now transmitting to my Government, for its complete information, copies of the correspondence exchanged between us in this connection.
Please accept [etc.]
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Diplomatic Agent and Consul General in his despatch No. 823, March 14; received March 30.↩