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71st Congress, 3d Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
House Document No. 825, Vol. III
Papers Relating to the
Foreign Relations
of the
United States
1930
(In Three Volumes)
Volume III
United States
Government Printing Office Washington: 1945
FRANCE
6
NEGOTIATIONS FOR A TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND
FRANCE REGARDING DOUBLE TAXATION
811.512351Double/4
The Ambassador in France (Edge) to the Secretary of State
No. 138
Paris, January 27, 1930
[Received February 7.]
SIR: I have the honor to refer to my telegram No.
24 of January 27, 7 p. m.,(1) concerning the double taxation problem as
represented the Boston Blacking Company case. All available information
to the conclusion that continued litigation in this case will result adversely
for the plaintiff. Following several conferences and at my request, the
Foreign Office has undertaken informally to have the case held in abeyance
until the two Governments have had an opportunity to discuss further the
entire question raised by double taxation.
The Minister of Finance has agreed to this plan of action.
As a result of the above negotiations, I enclose
a copy and translation of a note dated January 21, 1930, together with
a translation of its enclosures, which I have received from the Foreign
Office. (1) It will be observed that the French Government feels that before
entering into any such negotiations it would be advisable for the representatives
of each of the two countries to be made acquainted, at least in general
with the fiscal legislation of the other State. The enclosures are summaries
of various fiscal laws in France.
I should appreciate the Department's sending to
me at its convenience summaries of State and Federal laws of the United
States and any additional information regarding Federal income or other
taxes which it feels may be of assistance to the French Government in comparing
our laws with theirs in the matter of double assessment.
Mr. Howell, First Secretary of this Embassy, who
has been intimately associated with this question, will be in Washington
about middle of February and will discuss the case fully with you.
I have [etc.]
Walter E. Edge
1. Not printed.
FRANCE
7
811.512351Double/9
Ambassador in France (Edge) to the Secretary of State
No. 221
Paris, February 14, 1930.
[Received February 27.]
SIR: With reference to my despatch No. 138 of January
27 last, my telegram No. 34, February 10, 4 p.m.,(2) I have to transmit
herewith memoranda,(3) arranged in their chronological order, of further
conversations that have taken place with French officials concerning the
principle of double taxation as examining the Boston Blacking Company case,
as well as a copy of a memorandum prepared for me by Mr. Reagan, Acting
Commercial Attache' reporting a conversation which he had on February 10
with Signor Cantu, Assistant Commercial Counselor of the Italian Embassy.
The Department will note that on February 1 last,
at the time of my purely formal and official visit to the Minister of Finance,
M. Cheron, I raised the question of the Boston Blacking Company case and
as a result of arrangements made by the Minister at that time I called
on M. Borduge, Director General of Taxation, during the course of which
conversation M. Borduge made the definite proposal the we enter into negotiations
with the French Government looking towards execution of a double taxation
treaty.
It will further be noted that M. Borduge stated
emphatically that the Ministry of Finance could not give its approval to
the undertaking entered into by M. Campana of the Foreign Office to have
the case held in abeyance until our two Governments have had an opportunity
to discuss further the entire question raised by double taxation. (See
my despatch No. 138, January 27, and my telegram No. 24, 27, 7 p. m(2)
However, in a subsequent conversation which Mr. Amour (4) had with M. Campana,
(Enclosure No. 2 (3)), the Department will note that M. Campana, although
apprized of the refusal of the Ministry of Finance to concur in the proposal
to hold the matter has taken steps to bring the matter directly to the
attention of the Ministry of Justice, through the Procureur of the Republic,
and is hopeful that his recommendations will have the desired effect.
I desire to call the Department's particular attention
to the attitude shown by M. Borduge with regard to the proposal made by
Mr. Mitchell Carroll(5) that the matter be handled by an amendment of the
existing French law in the form of an interpreting
2. and 3. latter not printed
4. Norman Armour, Counselor of Embassy in France.
5. Of the Office of the General Counsel, Bureau of Internal Revenue.
8
FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1930, VOLUME III
act bringing foreign or at least American corporations owning the control
of French subsidiary corporations within the purview of law of July 31,
1920, which exempts French corporations subsidiaries from the dividend
tax as to dividends received from French subsidiaries.
In view of M. Borduge's insistence that the only
way of handling the matter is by the execution of a treaty, as well as
the advice gratuitously tendered by M. Campana to Mr. Armour that he feels
that would be useless to attempt to reach a solution through any such as
unilateral action by the French Government, I feel that time has come to
open negotiations and therefore suggested in telegram to the Department
that, if it approves, Mr. Carroll be designated and that he be requested
to come to Paris as soon as arrangements can be conveniently made. M. Borduge
informs me that Carroll is expected in Geneva for the meeting of
the Fiscal of the League of Nations in May and it would therefore seem
as though he should be able to advance the date of his departure sufficiently
to enable him to have a few weeks here in Paris for discussions with the
competent French officials.
I have [etc.]
Walter E. Edge
_____________________________________
811.512351Double/16
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France
No. 137
Washington, April 23, 1930
SIR: I am transmitting herewith two copies of a statement
"Basic Principles of United States Taxes", prepared by the Department
together with the copies of laws and regulations mentioned therein.(8)
It is suggested that a set of these be kept in the Embassy's files
and that the other set be transmitted through appropriate channels to Mr.
Borduge, Director General Taxation, in order that he may study them before
the informal discussions to take place during May with representatives
of this Government in connection with the double assessment of American
firms operating in France through French subsidiaries.
In this connection, I confirm the Department's telegram
of 19, 1930,(8) advising you that Mr. E. C. Alvord, Special Assistant to
the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Mitchell B. Carroll, formally of the
Department of Commerce and now attached to the Office of General Counsel,
Bureau of Internal Revenue and Professor S. Adams of Yale University,
are sailing on the George Washington on April 23. They should therefore
reach Paris in the early part of May. As at present advised, it is contemplated
that they will
8. Not printed.
FRANCE
9
remain in Paris until such time as it may be necessary for Professor
and Mr. Carroll to proceed to Geneva in connection with meetings of the
Fiscal Committee of the League of Nations. Inasmuch it is understood that
Mr. Borduge will also proceed to Geneva for the same purpose, it is believed
that the discussions be continued at that place. It is believed that a
total period of thirty days should be sufficient at this time to cover
the discussions in both cities. Mr. de Wolf who has been handling the Department
the question of double taxation in France, is sailing on the Majestic on
May 15 to spend his annual leave in Europe and expects to be in Geneva
on May 22, at which time he will be prepared to join in the discussions
until their conclusion.
As indicated in the Department's telegram No. 62
of March 19, it is presumed that the discussions will consist largely of
canvassing the present situation and exploring the possibility of remedial
action either in the shape of legislation or the conclusion of a treaty.
While it is not expected that the informal discussions to be initiated
in May will lead directly to the conclusion of a double taxation treaty
between the United States and France, the bases for such a treaty will,
however, be thoroughly gone into and the possible limits within which this
Government will be prepared to conclude such a treaty will be explained
to the representatives of the French Government.
The Embassy will, I know, extend every possible
assistance in with the forthcoming informal conference. Your past interest
and endeavors in this case have been of great assistance to the Department
in determining the best procedure to be followed with a view to protecting
the important American interests involved in this case. A separate instruction
is being sent to you with regard payment of expenses of this Government's
representatives(9)
I am [etc]
J.P. COTTON
_____________________________________________
811.512351Double/19
Ambassador in France (Edge) to the Secretary of State
Paris, May 6, 1930--noon.
[Received May 6--9 a.m.]
No. 130 Your 86, April 24, 5 p.m.(9) Messrs. Adams, Carroll and Alvord
have arrived and are now having conferences which will last for several
days with all the representatives of American interests concerned. Informal
negotiations with the appropriate French authorities will begin on Thursday.
Edge
9. Not printed
COMMENT: I only highlighted a few things one being the Bureau of Internal
Revenue because later they changed it to Internal Revenue Service and this
was in 1930. And Internal Revenue Service was not created until:
"The official title of the Bureau of Internal Revenue was changed to
the
Internal Revenue service by Treas. Dept. Order 150-29, eff. July 9,
1953."
From US Government Manual
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