lent tax of any kind is imposed upon vessels in said ports, under whatever flag they may sail; that vessels belonging to the United States of America, and their cargoes, are not required, in the Netherlands, to pay any fee or due of any kind, or nature, or any import due higher or other than is payable by vessels of the Netherlands or their cargoes; that no export duties are imposed in the Netherlands; and that in the free ports of the Dutch East Indies, to wit, Riouw (in the island of Riouw), Pabean, Sangrit, Loloan, and Tamboekoes (in the island of Bali), Koepang (in the island of Timor), Makassar, Menado, Kema, and Gorontalo (in the island of Celebes), Amboina, Saparoa, Banda, Ternate, and Kajeli (in the Moluccas), Oleh-leh, and Bengkalis (in the island of Sumatra), vessels are subjected to no fiscal tax, and no import or export duties are there levied : Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by section 11 of the act of Congress entitled "An act to abolish certain fees for official services to American vessels, and to amend the laws relating to shipping commissioners, seamen, and owners of vessels, and for other purposes," approved June nineteenth, one thousand eight hundred and eightysix, do hereby declare and proclaim that from and after the date of this my proclamation shall be suspended the collection of the whole of the duty of six cents per ton, not to exceed thirty cents per ton per annum (which is imposed by said section of said act) upon vessels entered in the ports of the United States from any of the ports of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Europe, or from any of the above-named free ports of the Dutch East Indies: Provided, That there shall be excluded from the benefits of the suspension hereby declared and proclaimed the vessels of any foreign country in whose ports the fees or dues of any kind or nature imposed on vessels of the United States, or the import or export duties on their cargoes, are in excess of the fees, dues, or duties imposed on the vessels of such foreign country, or their cargoes, or of the fees, dues, or duties imposed on the vessels of the country in which are the ports mentioned in this proclamation, or the cargoes of such vessels. And the suspension hereby declared and proclaimed shall continue so long as the reciprocal exemption of vessels belonging to citizens of the United States, and their cargoes, shall be continued in the said ports of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Europe and the said free ports of the Dutch East Indies, and no longer. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington this twenty-second day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and eleventh. I have the honor to offer you my sincere thanks for the letter you were pleased to write to me on the 22d of April last, and through which I learn with satisfaction that the President of the United States of America has, in conformity with the provisions of section 11 of the shipping act of June 19, 1886, No. 85, suspended tonnage dues in regard to vessels arriving in the United States from a certain class of ports in the Netherlands. With respect to the invitation, which in the same paper you had the kindness to address to my Government, in consequence of the contents of section 12 of the said "shipping act," I hasten to inform you that I have not failed to take the steps necessary to insure its reaching its destination. Accept, etc., G. DE WECKHERLIN. I did not fail to inform my Government of the letter which you were good enough to address to me on the 22d April, to inform me that the President had suspended the tonnage dues on ships arriving in the United States from a certain category of ports of the Netherlands. The minister of foreign affairs at the Hague received this information with pleasure, and desires me now to express to you how much he appreciates the decision of the United States Government in the matter in question. In accordance with those instructions I have, therefore, the honor to offer you the thanks of Mr. Karnebeek, and I hope that you will permit me at the same time to inform you as regards the invitation to later negotiations, conveyed in your above-mentioned note, under section 12 of the shipping act of the 19th of June 1886, that my Government will hasten to examine the question with all the interest it merits. Accept, etc., G. DE WECKHERLIN. SIR: As instructed in Department's circular of July 9, which I received on the 24th ultimo, I have advised the foreign office relative to act of Congress, approved June 19, 1886, to abolish certain fees for official services to American vessels, etc., as will fully appear in copy of note which I inclose. SIR: Under an act of Congress approved June 19, 1886, a reduction was made in the tonnage tax of 30 cents per ton per annum, formerly collected, and instead, a duty of 3 cents per ton is imposed, not to exceed in the aggregate 15 cents per ton in any one year on each entry of vessels into United States ports from all foreign ports and places in North America, Central America, the West India Islands, or the coast of South America bordering on the Caribbean Sea. This, it may be observed, has been considered as applying to a geographical zone, not involving a test of flag; while on vessels from all other foreign ports a duty of 6 cents per ton is imposed on each entry, not to exceed 30 cents per ton per annum in the aggregate, and not, however, to include vessels in distress or not engaged in trade. It is also provided in the same act that the President of the United States shall suspend the collection of so much of the duty imposed on vessels entering from any foreign port as may be in excess of the tonnage and light-house dues, or other equiva lent tax or taxes imposed in said port on American vessels by the Government of the foreign country in which such port may be situated, and shall, as often as it may be necessary by reason of changes in the laws of foreign countries, indicate by procla mation the ports to which such suspension shall apply, and the rate or rates of tonnage duty, if any, to be collected under such suspension: Provided, That such proclamation shall exclude from the benefits of such suspension the vessels of any foreign country in whose ports the fees or dues of any kind or nature imposed on vessels of the United States or the import or export duties on their cargoes are in excess of the fees, dues, or duties imposed on the vessels of the country in which such port is situated, or on the cargoes of such vessels.. The President, under the law, is directed to cause the Governments of foreign countries which, at any of their ports impose on American vessels a tonnage tax or lighthouse dues, or other equivalent tax or taxes, or any other fees, charges, or dues, to be informed of the provisions of the relevant section of said law, and to invite them to co-operate with the Government of the United States in abolishing all light-house dues, tonnage taxes, or other equivalent tax or taxes on and also all other fees for official services to the vessels of the respective nations employed in the trade between ports of such countries and ports of the United States. It will be seen that the provisions of the law referred to are broad enough to cover either a reduction or a complete abrogation by reciprocal action, of tonnage and equivalent charges on navigation; and it is open to any foreign country in all or any of whose ports a less charge is made than that now imposed in the ports of the United States to obtain forthwith a reduction of the charge in the United States on vessels from such port or ports, to an equality with that levied in the port or ports designated. In view of these facts I am directed to invite the Government of Peru to co-operate with the United States toward the contemplated ends. The intent of the present invitation is to deal, on the basis of reciprocity, without reference to geographical limits. In order that the statutory provisions may be fully understood, in case this explanation may seem in any way inadequate, I inclose a copy of the law with the sections marked to which I have referred. I am further instructed to ascertain whether in the ports of Peru or in any dependency thereof, any discrimination exists against vessels of the United States as compared with the vessels of Peru (other than those engaged in coasting trade), or of any other country, and if so, the precise nature and extent of such discrimination; in order that the Government of the United States may determine how far shipping of Peru is to be restricted or excluded from the privileges created under the existing laws, or under arrangements of reciprocity if effected under the authorization of this indicated statute. Both in thus communicating this invitation and in seeking the information just mentioned I desire to convey the fullest assurances to your excellency of the entire friendliness of the action of my Government, and of its desire to treat the commerce and flag of Peru on the footing of the most complete reciprocity in those matters to which the invitation relates. Presenting herewith, etc., RUSSIA. CHAS. W. BUCK. No. 136.] No. 78. Mr. Wurts to Mr. Bayard. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, St. Petersburg, August 11, 1887. (Received August 27.) SIR: I have the honor to aknowledge the receipt of your circular instruction of July 9, 1887, with its inclosures, relating to the proposal to remove tonnage and other charges on navigation, and to inform you that I have communicated the same to the Russian minister of foreign affairs. I remain, etc., GEORGE W. WURTS. No. 159.1 No. 79. Mr. Lothrop to Mr. Bayard. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, St. Petersburg, February 18, 1888. (Received March 6.) SIR: On the 10th of August last this legation transmitted to the Russian Government the invitation of the United States to co-operate towards "either a reduction or a complete abolition, by reciprocal action, of tonnage and equivalent charges on navigation." At the same time information was asked "whether in the ports of Russia or any dependencies thereof any discrimination existed against vessels of the United States as compared with those of Russia (other than those engaged in coasting or colonial trade), or the vessels of any other country." A reply to said communication has this day been received from the imperial foreign office, a copy of which, with a translation thereof, I herewith inclose. It will be seen that it is answered that no such discrimination exists, but that the equality and complete reciprocity stipulated for by Article II of the treaty of commerce ratified May 11, 1833, is faithfully observed. It is also pointed out that since the making of said treaty Russia has made treaties with other powers, and that Article XI of said treaty admits the vessels of the United States to all the privileges granted by said later treaties to the most favored nation. But it is claimed that, in this state of things, the reduction of existing charges, etc., would place American vessels in positions more advantageous than national vessels, as under existing treaties the vessels of other nations would be admitted the same privileges. It is added, however, that the question has now no practical side, for, according to the report of 1886, only one American bottom has entered a Russian port, and only three Russian bottoms have arrived from American ports, while not a single one has cleared for that country. For these reasons the Imperial Government declines to accede to the proposition of the United States. The deplorable condition of the carrying trade between the United States and Russia, referred to above, was mentioned by me in my dis patch No. 16, September 16, 1885. At the beginning of this winter, after the closing of this port by ice, it was said that there were at one time, in the neighboring port of Revel, thirty cotton-laden ships coming direct from America, not one of which was an American bottom. Very truly, etc., GEO. V. N. LOTHROP. [Inclosure in No. 159.-Translation.] Mr. Vlangaly to Mr. Lothrop. No. 817.] IMPERIAL MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Mr. MINISTER: Under date of July 29 (Angust 10), 1887, the legation of the United States presented to the imperial ministry the proposal of the Government of the United States to establish an agreement with the object of a reciprocal reduction or abolition of tonnage and other charges on commercial vessels. This proposal has been submitted to the examination of the competent administraH. Ex. 1, pt. 1--123 tions, and I am now able to inform you of the point of view from which the Imperial Government looks at this question. By the terms of Article II of the treaty of commerce and navigation between Russia and the United States of December 6 (18), 1832, American vessels in the ports of the Empire are treated upon the same footing as national vessels in respect to tonnage duties. Although in regard to other duties and charges, of whatever kind or denomination, American vessels are treated upon the same footing as the vessels of the most favored nations with which there is no treaty actually in force which reg ulates said duties and charges on the basis of an entire reciprocity, nevertheless, taking into consideration that, by Article XI of the same treaty, it is stipulated that any particular favor in commerce or navigation ranted in the future to any other nation shall immediately become common to the United States, Russia having during this period made with other foreign powers treaties of commerce and navigation by which the vessels of these powers are treated on the footing of perfect equality with our national vessels, the same favor must be granted to American vessels. Consequently American vessels now enjoy in Russian ports, so far as relates to duties and charges imposed on vessels, the same privileges as the national vessels, and consequently the reduction of these charges would place American vessels in more advantageous conditions than national vessels, and as a consequence this privilege would have to be granted to the vessels of every nation which, by virtue of treaties actually in force, enjoys the privileges of the most favored nation. Independently of the considerations above stated there is one having a practical side which could not be disputed. The proposal of the Government of the United States, in case of its acceptance, would have a very restricted application, for, according to the report for the year 1886, there has been only one arrival and one departure of an American vessel in Russia, and only three of Russian vessels coming from America and not one destined for that country. By reason of the foregoing the Imperial Government does not see its way to accede to the proposal of the Government of the United States. Receive, Mr. Minister, etc., A. VLANGALY. No. 99.] SWEDEN AND NORWAY. No. 80. Mr. Magee to Mr. Bayard. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Stockholm, October 24, 1887. (Received November 8, 1887.) SIR: I have the honor to inform you that on Saturday evening last I received a note from his excellency Count Ehrensvörd, secretary for foreign affairs for the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, in which he informs me that the proposition submitted by the Government of the United States, looking to the abolishment of light-house fees, tax on tonnage, etc., will be considered by the respective councils of state of the two governments. I have asked that this consideration may have as prompt action as is possible. It is possible that a change in the personnel of the council of state will take place within a few weeks, as I had the honor to inform you in my No. 96. If so, there may be some delay occasioned before a concension of the submitted propositions is arrived at. I have the honor, etc., RUFUS MAGEE. |