Mr. Seward to Mr.
Chase.
Department of State, Washington,
December 24, 1862.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication of the 12th instant, in regard to the
collection and protection of the revenue in foreign countries, and to
inform you that, agreeably to your suggestion, a
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circular letter, of which a copy is
herewith enclosed, has been transmitted to our diplomatic and consular
officers in Europe, requesting them to furnish the information which you
desire.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. S. P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury.
[Circular No. 30.]
Department of State, Washington,
December 24, 1862.
To the Diplomatic and Consular Officers of the
United States:
The necessity of devising new modes of protecting the interests of
the revenue of the United States, and of carrying such methods into
execution, makes it desirable that the Treasury Department should be
informed of the means adopted by the several nations of Europe for
the protection of their respective revenues and the collection of
duties in the passage of goods across the national frontiers, and in
the transhipment in their ports for export to a foreign land.
I have, therefore, to request, at the instance of the Secretary of
the Treasury, that you will furnish the department with such
information upon this subject as you can obtain in respect to the
country of your official residence; also, with the forms which are
used, the rules and regulations in force, the fees charged, and
other expenses incurred in the foreign revenue service.
