393.115 Standard-Vacuum Oil Co./99: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 22—7:30 a.m.]
Embassy’s 171, March 13, 2 p.m. The Chairman of the Chekiang Provincial Government has not yet replied to my telegram of March 10 and the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company now informs me orally that they have received information from their Ningpo agent to the effect that the garrison commander at Ningpo has received no instructions from the Provincial Chairman in regard to the matter of the illegal tax imposed on the company’s steamer Meinan. The agent further reports that the garrison commander now insists on collecting retroactively public welfare tax on the last six trips of the vessel and that he will commence on April 1 the collection of ships survey fee.
I am again telegraphing the Chairman of the Chekiang Provincial Government requesting that action be taken to prevent the garrison commander at Ningpo from imposing illegal taxes on American shipping and respectfully suggest that the Embassy again approach the Chinese Government with a view to having appropriate instructions issued promptly not only to the Chairman of the Chekiang Provincial Government but also to the garrison commander at Ningpo.
Sent to Chungking.