852.711/110
The Chargé at Tangier (Schott) to the
Secretary of State
No. 1063
Tangier, October 1,
1942.
[Received October 14.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a
copy of a Note dated September 30, 1942 addressed by the Legation to
General Uriarte,
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Delegate in
Tangier of the Spanish High Commissioner in Morocco, in connection with
a pretension contrary to treaty provisions put forward by the Spanish
authorities in charge of the Customs in Tangier, to their right to
examine the contents of packages addressed to foreign diplomatic and
consular representatives at this post.
The note referred to follows the suggestion contained in the concluding
paragraph of the Legation’s despatch No. 1005 of August 27, 1942
approved by the Department’s cable instruction No. 173 of September 24,
1942.
The Legation will not fail to apprise the Department of General Uriarte’s
eventual response to the communication, and of any further developments
in this matter.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure]
The American Chargé at Tangier (Schott) to General Jenaro
Uriarte, Delegate in Tangier of the Spanish High
Commissioner for Morocco
Tangier, September 30,
1942.
My Dear General Uriarte and Distinguished
Friend: Reference is made to previous correspondence, in
particular to Mr. Childs’ note of August 13, 1942, replying to your
communication of August 11, 1942, concerning the question of the
customs inspection of seven postal packages which arrived in
mid-June and two at the beginning of August last addressed to this
Legation, and are still lying at the Spanish Post Office.
In order to dispose of this matter I would inform you that I am
prepared to acquiesce in the examination by the Customs of the
contents of the nine packages under reference, without prejudice to
the treaty principles involved, or to the specific American treaty
rights in the premises as recited in Mr. Childs’ note of July 29,
1942 addressed to his Spanish colleague, Señor Soriano, which was
the occasion of your note to him of August 11, 1942, and on the
further understanding that such inspection shall not be taken to
imply a precedent for the treatment of any parcels which may arrive
in the future for this Legation or for the American Consulate
General.
When acknowledging this communication will you be good enough, dear
General and distinguished friend, to let me know the date and hour
when it may be arranged for a member of the Legation, bearing
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the customs franchise
passes, to be present at the opening of the parcels in question by
the Customs officers.76
With kind personal regards,
Sincerely yours,
