611.56241/57
The Minister in the Netherlands (Emmet) to the Secretary of
State
No. 583
The
Hague, November 12, 1936.
[Received
November 24.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the
Department’s Instruction No. 269, of June 23, 1936, upon receipt of
which a note was sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (No. 288, of
July 2, 1936), a copy of which is enclosed.
A satisfactory reply, a copy and translation of which are enclosed, has
just been received from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, from which it
will be seen that, on a reciprocal basis, the Netherlands Government
agrees to our suggestions.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure 1]
The American Minister (Emmet) to the Netherland Minister for Foreign
Affairs (De
Graef)
No. 288
The
Hague, July 2, 1936.
Excellency: I have the honor to inform Your
Excellency that the American Government has received information to
the effect that American Trade Commissioners in the Netherlands
Indies are allowed free entry for their effects, including their
automobiles, upon first arrival and upon return from leave of
absence in the United States, but not at any other time. The
American Government also understands that the privilege of free
entry at any time may be extended to such officers by a reciprocal
agreement between the American Government and that of the
Netherlands.
The American Treasury Department has informed the Department of State
that it has no objection to extending on the basis of reciprocity,
to Netherlands Trade Commissioners assigned in the United States and
their families, the privilege of importing articles for their
personal use under the understanding that such officers shall be
nationals of the Netherlands and not engaged in any private
occupation for gain, and that no article the importation of which is
prohibited by the laws of the United States shall be imported by
them.
I am consequently instructed by my Government to inquire whether the
Netherlands Government would be willing to extend to American Trade
Commissioners and Assistant Trade Commissioners assigned to the
Netherlands and its colonial possessions privileges similar to those
which the American Treasury Department has expressed its willingness
to extend to Netherlands Trade Commissioners within the United
States.
I avail myself [etc.]
[Page 392]
[Enclosure 2—Translation]
The Netherland Ministry for
Foreign Affairs to the American
Legation
Note Verbale
In reply to the Note Verbale from the Legation
of the United States of America No. 288, of July 2nd, last, the
Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the honor to inform the
above-named Legation that the Netherlands Government is disposed to
grant to commercial agents and assistant commercial agents of the
United States of America domiciled in the Netherlands or in the
Netherlands overseas territories, on condition of reciprocity,
freedom from customs duties on goods which they import from abroad
for their personal use (or for the use of members of their family),
provided that they are foreigners and that they do not fulfil any
other function nor carry on any trade in the Netherlands or in the
Netherlands overseas territories.
The necessary instructions have already been given to the competent
authorities.
The Hague,
November 10,
1936.
