893.24/11431/11: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul at Rangoon (Brady)
Washington, July 16,
1941—11 p.m.
With reference to your telegram of July 7, 3 p.m.18 the Department desires an expression of your opinion on the three following questions which should not be discussed with the Government of Burma.
- 1.
- Is it likely that the Burmese Ministry might be induced to consent to a complete abolition of the transit tax on Chinese Government war materials or at least on American “aid-to-China” supplies?
- 2.
- If the Governor of Burma were to abolish the tax on the basis of his jurisdiction over external affairs, would his action be likely to precipitate a serious domestic political crisis disproportionate to the advantages gained?
- 3.
- Could the Government of Burma compensate for the loss of this abnormal source of revenue by an earnest endeavor to effect economies in the governmental establishment?
Welles
- Not printed.↩