693.943/14a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Tientsin (Caldwell)
103. The Department of Agriculture has received a telegram from its Commissioner in Shanghai quoting information received from the Consulate General at Tientsin which reads in part as follows:
“Large quantity of Japanese milled flour has been imported into North China through Tientsin. It is estimated during October about 700,000 bags were imported and total amount imported since July approximately 1,500,000 bags. Importation of other foreign flour is at present impossible as Japanese flour is exempt from regular import custom duty.”
Please telegraph whether or not the statement regarding Japanese exemption from customs duty applies to commercial shipments (as distinct from military supplies) and also whether commercial shipments of other Japanese products are being exempted from ordinary customs duties.