611.9331/3–2849: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 31—9:35 a. m.]
178. We have certified no invoices since Communist take-over January 15. First and only instance of request for certification occurred March 26 when set invoices covering large rug shipment on SS China Victory presented by Chinese firm (see ourtel 17915 re China Victory cargo). Applicant informed today that Consulate General in no position for present to act on application for certification as we not extended normal facilities. We pointed out this not refusal to certify; that since authorities did not permit use codes, our mail not being delivered and we had no courier service, we could not operate without ready access to pertinent instructions on invoicing.
From views expressed in Deptel 55, March 16[12],16 and Embtel 23, March 19[18]17 (both just received), it seems unfeasible to instruct Hong Kong, Shanghai and other offices to refuse certify invoices on merchandise from Communist areas. This is crux of matter, or if certification can be accomplished elsewhere we see no way consular certification can be used by Consulates in Communist areas as device to obtain normal facilities and reasonable treatment. With Hong Kong and other consular offices available for invoice certification, result of our refusal to certify invoices would be to give British and other coastal vessels much of cargo business which normally goes on American vessels from Taku Bar direct to US (there are no American vessels operating in coastal trade), this Consulate General would also lose prestige with local authorities and businessmen if we refused to certify and could be bypassed by going to consular offices in Hong [Page 922] Kong or elsewhere. We will, however, postpone certification of invoices until Department has considered above views and those which may be expressed by other offices and has advised us which course of action it desires we follow.
As previously reported, indications are that Communists are anxious to revive foreign trade on which livelihood of at least 50 percent of Tientsin population depends.
In ourtel 132, March 10 we reported Tientsin American Chamber Commerce strongly endorsed our recommendations re invoice control. However, if certification can be obtained in Hong Kong or elsewhere, then exporters obviously would not wish this office to refuse certification.
To date we are without effective means of pressing local authorities for facilities usually accorded Consulates.
Sent to Department as 178, Department pass Nanking as 107, Shanghai as 105, Hong Kong and Peiping as 66.
- March 28, not printed; it furnished details of cargo scheduled to leave Tientsin for American West Coast ports on March 29; about 90% of 1087 tons to be shipped comprised rugs and walnut meats.↩
- See telegram No. 121 to the Consul General at Peiping, p. 911.↩
- Same as telegram No. 603 from Nanking, p. 917.↩