102.8102 Taxation/13 / France

The Chargé in France (Armour) to the Secretary of State

No. 9265

Sir: With reference to the Department’s cabled Instruction No. 142 of May 19, 1928, 2 P.M. [noon], with regard to the taxes imposed on [Page 1004] Messrs. Kelly, Canty and Green, Trade Commissioners in Paris, and the Department’s cabled Instruction No. 358 of October 13, 1928, 6 P.M.,17 regarding the taxation of Mr. J. F. O’Neill, Customs Attaché, I have the honor to report that this matter has at last been satisfactorily settled.

In a note from the Foreign Office, dated December 30, 1928, a copy and translation of which is transmitted herewith, it is stated that these officers will be considered as forming part of the personnel of this mission and as such will be considered as exempt from personal taxes.

Mr. Hall, mentioned in the Foreign Office note, is a fourth Trade Commissioner, whose name was added by the Embassy in its communication to the Foreign Office, at the request of the Commercial Attaché.

The Embassy has already informed the Commercial Attaché and Mr. O’Neill of this decision.

I have [etc.]

Norman Armour
[Enclosure—Translation]

The French Ministry for Foreign Affairs to the American Embassy

By a note dated July 24 last, the Embassy of the United States expressed the wish that exemption from direct taxes be accorded Messrs. Green, Kelly, Canty and Hall, officers of the United States Department of Commerce and attached to the offices of the Commercial Attaché of the Embassy.

Subsequently, by a memorandum of October 15 last, the Embassy requested that the same exemption be accorded Mr. O’Neill, an officer of the United States Treasury Department, likewise attached to the Embassy of the United States at Paris.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has the honor to inform the Embassy that it appears that Messrs. Green, Canty, Kelly, Hall and O’Neill should be considered as being part of the personnel of the American diplomatic mission in France and as such are exempt from personal taxes.

By decision of the Departmental Director of Direct Taxes, dated October 19, 1928, exemption has been granted to Messrs. Green, Canty, Kelly and Hall for the amount of taxes assessed against them for 1928. The same measure will be immediately taken with regard to Mr. O’Neill.

The Embassy will find attached hereto the tax notices sent Messrs. Green and Hall18 which were forwarded with its communication of July 24.

  1. Not printed.
  2. Not attached to file copy.