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A GREAT DEAL OF TROUBLE

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U.S. Customs Inspector Harry Standish was trying to clear up a tiresome problem. Most of the passengers who arrived aboard a Scandinavian Airplane DC – 8 from Copenhagen, had cleared Customs and had left. Only this well-dressed American woman posed a problem insisting that all she had bought in Europe was some perfume, costume jewelry, and shoes. The total declared value was ten dollars less than the free exemption she was allowed.

“Madam,” he said quietly to the woman whose several suitcases were spread open on the Customs inspection table between them, “are you quite sure you don’t wish to change your story?”

She snapped back, “I suppose you’re suggesting I should lie, when I’ve already told you the truth. Really! – you people are so officious, so disbelieving, I sometimes wonder if we’re not living in a police state.”

Harry Standish ignored the second remark, as Customs officers were trained to ignore the many insults they received, and answered politely, “I’m not suggesting anything, madam. I merely asked if you wished to amend your statement about these items – the dresses, the sweaters, and the fur coat.”

The woman, whose American passport showed that she was Mrs. Hariet Du Barry Mossman who lived in Evanston, and had just returned from a month in England, France, and Denmark, replied acidly, “No, I don’t. Furthermore, when my husband’s lawyer hears of this interrogation…”

“Yes, madam,” Harry Standish said. “In this case, I wonder if you’d mind signing this form. If you like, I’ll explain it to you.”

“Why should I sign anything?” Mrs. Mossman demanded.

“To make things easier for yourself, madam. We’re merely asking you to conform in writing what you’ve already told us. You say the dresses were purchased…”

“How many times must I tell you? They were bought in Chicago and New York before I left for Europe; so were the sweaters. The coat was a gift – purchased in the United States. I received it six months ago.”

Why, Harry Standish wondered, did people do it? All the statements just made, he knew with certainty, were lies.

To begin with, the dresses – six, all of good quality – had had their labels removed. No one did that innocently, women were usually proud of the labels in quality clothes. More to the point, the workmanship of the dresses was unmistakably French; so was the styling of the fur coat – though a Saks Fifth Avenue label had been sewn unskillfully in the coat lining. What people like Mrs. Mossman failed to realize was that a trained Customs man didn’t need to see labels to know where garments originated. Cutting, stiching – even the way a zipper was put in – were like familiar handwriting, and equally distinctive. All this, and much else, Customs officers learned as part of their training.

Mrs. Mossman asked, “What happens if I signed the form?”

“Then you may go, madam.”

“And take my things with me? All my things?”

“Yes.”

“Supposing I refuse to sign?”

“Then we shall be obliged to detain you here while we continue the investigation.”

There was the briefest hesitation, then “Very well. You fill out the form I’ll sign.”

“No, madam, you fill it out. Now here, please, describe the items, and alongside where you say they were obtained. Please give the name of the stores, also from whom you received the fur coat as a gift.”

He waited while Mrs. Mossman completed the form and signed it. Commencing tomorrow, an investigation officer would begin checking out the statement Mrs. Mossman had just made. The garments would be requisitioned and taken to the stores where she claimed they are purchased.

Mrs. Mossman – though she didn’t know it yet – was in for a great deal of trouble, including some heavy duty to be paid and almost a stiff fine.

(by A. Hailey)

 

TASKS

Task 1. Answer the following comprehension questions.

1. What problem was U.S. Customs Inspector Harry Standish trying to clear up?

2. Why did the American woman insist that she had bought in Europe only some perfume, jewelry, and shoes?

3. How much time had the woman spent in Europe?

4. Why did H. Standish ask her to confirm in writing what she had already told the Customs?

5. Why did Mrs. Mossman lie that she had purchased the dresses in Chicago and New York before leaving for Europe?

6. How did she try to prove it?

7. What were the real proofs that those things were unmistakably French?

8. Where had she got the fur coat from?

9. What did Customs officers learn as part of their training?

10. Why did she sign the form?

11. Did she know that checking of the given information would start the next day?

12. What penalty might await her?

 

Task 2. Say what you can remember about:

1. Mrs. Mossman’s story about the things she had brought in.

2. The tricks she used, not to pay duties.

 

Task 3. Problem questions.

1. Why were Mrs. Mossman’s things detained?

2. How is a U.S. Customs officer trained?

3. Do you know the current Customs Regulations in respect of the total value of goods bought abroad?




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The Harmonized System Convention | Column A Column B | Pre-reading | Working on the text | TWO COATS | IN THE DRIVING SEAT | AT THE CUSTOMS OFFICE | DUTCH CIGARETTES | A PRESENT FROM STRASBOURG | COPING WITH SMUGGLING IN THE MIDDLE AGES |


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