500.A 4 e/361: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
Peking, September 25,
1925—8 p.m.
[Received September 25—9:45
a.m.]
418. I have just received from senior minister mimeographed circular
entitled “Provisional Agenda for the Special Conference on Chinese
Customs” which has been handed to him by the Foreign Office for
distribution, reading as follows:
- “A. Tariff autonomy. (1) Adoption
by the Chinese Government of the Chinese general customs
tariff. (For practical convenience a period is to be agreed
upon within which to make preparations for the coming into
force of tariff autonomy and application of the Chinese
general customs tariff.) (2) Abolition of likin.
- B. Provisional measures to be taken
during the interim period. (1) Levy of an interim
surtax. (2) Levy of a surtax on articles of luxury. (3)
Arrangements to unify the rates of customs duties at the
land and maritime frontiers. (4) Valuation of
commodities.
- [C] Related
matters. (1) Arrangement[s] to ascertain the
country of origin of imported goods or produce. (2) The
depository [depositing] of customs
revenues.”
Copy by mail to Tokyo.
