.BY.
(# 11600/85/17).
He. 30.
B
H.B.M. CONSULATE GENERAL,
SAIDON, COCHIN-CHIBA,
November 9th, 1926.
33
Sir:-
I have the honour to bring to your notice one more
instance in which the local French Authorities charge
foreigners higher taxes than those which they make their
own nationals pay.
2.
On the 19th day of October 1926 the Acting
Governor of Cochinchina signed an arrêté by which French
firms would pay 1 1/2 of the amount of their "Licence
to trade" and foreign firms 2% of that Licence towards
the expenses of the Chamber of Commerce.
3. This increase of tax appears all the more unjust
when it is realised that no firm except a French one can
be a member of the Chamber in question. The Chamber is
entirely French and works purely in the interests of
French trade. Even a French citizen, managing a foreign
firm, is deprived his right of vote in the election of
its members.
4. Previous instances of this policy of charging
foreigners more than the French have been brought to
your notice on various occasions.
The import duties de
not quite fall under this head so much as the pilotage
dues where French ships obtain a 30% rebate and the
shooting licences where Frendmen pay half the tax exseted
from a foreigner. The high charges of the Asiatic
His Majesty's Frincipal Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Orrise,
Lendon.
Immigration