893.841 Surtax/19: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 8—4:47 a.m.]
795. Following from the American consul at Shanghai:
“August 6, 11 a.m. It is now announced that ‘on and after August 8th the amount of surtax on all tonnage dues shall be reduced to one-half the amount of the present surtax levy.’ This is understood to mean that the total taxes will be 5 mace.
Since the clearance of the Paul Lecat, as advised in my August 1, 3. p.m., two other French vessels have been cleared with consular clearance only and no reprisals of any kind have been attempted by the Chinese. The French consul general’s instructions are for the ships to recognize any signals made by Chinese which would convey their intention to interrupt voyage. In other words he instructed that no force be used. As was anticipated by me no force has been necessary.”