124.571/108

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Norway (Thaw)

No. 282

Sir: Reference is made to your despatch No. 570 of January 7, 1935,11 reporting that the Tax Commission of the Municipality of Oslo has advised the Legation that the taxable valuation of the Legation property has been increased from 500,000 to 570,000 kroner, effective July 1, 1935, which will mean an increase in the real estate tax from 3500 to 3990 kroner for the next fiscal year.

When representations were made to the Norwegian Government in 1924 for exemption from taxation of this Government’s Legation property in Oslo, the position of the Norwegian Government was that it had no authority under existing law to exempt foreign Legation properties in Oslo from the communal real estate tax. In view of the fact that since that time the Norwegian Government has acquired property for its Legation in Washington and that this property has up to the present time been exempt from taxation by the United [Page 628] States, it is desired that you present again to the Norwegian Government the matter of exemption from taxation of the Legation property of the United States Government at Oslo on the basis of reciprocity.

Very truly yours,

For the Secretary of State:
Wilbur J. Carr
  1. Not printed.