File No. 10624/8. The President of the United States to the Emperor of Austria. [Telegram.] WASHINGTON, December 1, 1908. In the fullness of honored years Your Majesty completes the sixtieth year of sovereignty over a great nation. I offer you most cordial felicitations upon this memorable occasion, with earnest wishes for your welfare and for the prosperity of the peoples whose destinies you guide. I shall attend the celebration of this event which is to be held in this city. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. RESTRICTIONS ON AMERICAN MEATS IMPORTED INTO AUSTRIA. File No. 821/36-38. No. 453.] Ambassador Francis to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, VIENNA, February 11, 1908. SIR: Supplementing my No. 373, dated November 14, 1907, I have the honor to inclose copies of a note and an accompanying memorandum (with translations) received to-day from Baron Aehrenthal in which are defined the position of the Governments of Austria and Hungary on the subject of the admission within their borders of American meats. I am, etc., [Inclosure-Translation.] CHARLES S. FRANCIS. The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Ambassador Francis. FOREIGN OFFICE, Vienna, February 10, 1908. Mr. AMBASSADOR: A few days ago you were kind enough to speak to me regarding two subjects in which you were greatly interested-the expulsion of the naturalized American citizen, Selig Fink, and a protest on the subject of the importation of meat products from America into Austria-Hungary. Concerning the case of Selig Fink,' I may refer you to the note No. 7925, dated February 3, 1908, which the ministry for foreign affairs has addressed to you on the subject. With reference to the other matter, I beg to place herewith at your disposal a statement in which is defined the position of the Imperial and Royal Government regarding the importation of meat products from America. Accept, etc., AERENTHAL [Subinclosure-Translation.] Statement of the foreign office. THE FOREIGN OFFICE, Vienna, January 26, 1908. This protest is made, first, against the law of 1906, by which the importation of cattle and of fresh and preserved meats from non-European countries is lim 1 See Foreign Relations, 1907, p. 66. See p. 18. ited so that the importation can only take place with special permission, which must be obtained in each case, and, secondly, against the demand that pork meat brought from the United States for import into Austria-Hungary must be accompanied by a certificate which states that the meat has been microscopically examined in America. So far as the law of 1906 is concerned, it affects America only with reference to cattle and beef meat. The importation of hogs, hog meat, bacon, and sausages is allowed in accordance with the terms of the law of 1891. The United States now enjoys a privilege over all other non-European countries, for the reason that the importation of hogs and hog meat from those countries is absolutely forbidden. The demand that cattle and beef meat be admitted without restriction can not be granted, for the reason that we have no knowledge whatever of the veterinary regulations of the United States. The enormous production, as compared with our own, of meat in the United States makes it impossible to control this production by similar regulations, and as rigid, as ours. It is impossible to treat foreign products more favorable than our own. It should here be noted that Germany forbids the importation of cattle and fresh beef from the United States. So far as the certificates of microscopical examination are concerned, the United States has recently passed laws abandoning them. On the ground of sanitary policy, we can not concede the contention relative to the importation of pork, etc., without a certificate of microscopical examination, for the reason that the importation of meat containing "trichina" can only in this way be prevented. Cases are on record where meat containing "trichina" has been imported into Austria-Hungary from America. There is clearly no prohibition of the importation of pork meat into AustriaHungary, and it lies with the Government of the United States to reintroduce microscopical examination in order that entry of meat which has been so examined and found wholesome may be permitted. In Germany the importation of all prepared meats is regulated by laws regarding meat inspection. File No. 821/39-40. No. 469.] Ambassador Francis to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Vienna, February 29, 1908. SIR: Supplementing my No. 453, dated February 11, 1908, I have the honor to inclose copy of a note (with translation) received to-day from the foreign office relative to the subject of the admission of American meats within the boundaries of Austria and Hungary. I am, etc., [Inclosure-Translation.] CHARLES S. FRANCIS. The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Ambassador Francis. IMPERIAL AND ROYAL MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, In the requests made in the esteemed notes F. O. No. 31, of November 6, 1906; F. O. No. 62, of February 16, 1907; F. O. No. 142, of January 20, 1908, by which it was asked that an alteration should be made in the ministerial decree of July 5, 1906 (R. G. Bl. No. 138), whereby meat imported from America and accompanied by a certificate to the effect that it had been examined and found healthy should be admitted into Austria-Hungary; and, further, that an alteration in the ministerial decree of December 4, 1891, (R. G. Bl. No. 168), whereby port meat imported from America should no longer be required to be accompanied by a certificate of American officials to the 76851°- -F B 1908-3 effect that it had been thoroughly examined microscopically for "trichina," the undersigned begs to communicate to His Excellency Mr. Charles S. Francis, the ambassador of the United States of America, the following decision of the Imperial Austrian and the Royal Hungarian Governments. Taking into consideration the fact that in most of the non-European countries, and especially in the United States of America, the enormous number of cattle is such that the administration of the veterinary laws and reports of cattle diseases are not so arranged that we are able to have a continuous insight into the veterinary police conditions of such countries, as is the case in European countries; also for the reason that the number of animals which are duly slaughtered at the great meat exporting houses, with their ever expanding business, is so extensive that an inspection of the animals both before and after slaughtering can not, for purely technical reasons, take place as with us; therefore, the request made to permit the importation of cattle and meat of American origin, with certain restrictions, can not be allowed, for the reason that the foreign product would thereby receive a more favorable treatment than the similar native product, and this could not be permitted as being clearly a departure from the usual international observances in such matters. In consideration of the above conditions, and for sanitary and veterinary reasons, the importation of cattle and meat from non-European countries can only be permitted in accordance with ministerial decree of July 5, 1906 (R. G. Bl. No. 138), whereby permission must be obtained from the competent officials in the case of each separate importation. In this connection it should not be passed unnoticed that the United States has been particularly well treated by the above mentioned decree of December 4, 1891 (R. G. Bl. No. 168), whereby the importation of hogs, hog meat of all kinds, bacon and sausages of all kinds, from the United States of America is allowed under certain regulations, governing the microscopic examination of hog meat for "trichina." It should be noticed that this law is still in force, in spite of the extremely bad sanitary conditions which were reported to have existed in the great meat exporting houses a fact admitted by the Government officials. This condition of affairs was so bad that there has been almost a question of forbidding the importation of American meats altogether. The Austrian and Hungarian Governments must further call attention to their good will shown to American interests by the fact that recently an importation of hog meat from America, which was accompanied by a certificate as having been found healthy, was, after its arrival, found undoubtedly to contain trichina. In spite of this state of affairs and resulting consequences the importation of American pork meat has not been restricted. With reference to the recent request of the American embassy that permission need not be obtained in each separate case for the importation of meats of all kinds from America, and that pork meat shall not be accompanied by a certificate of official microscopic examination, the Governments of Austria and Hungary, having in view the stated requirements of sanitation and veterinary police regulations, can not grant the request. It may here be mentioned that with regard to such matters other States, as for example the German Empire, are much more severe. In Germany the importation, or transportation through the country itself, of cattle or fresh beef meat from America is absolutely forbidden, and importation of meats of other kinds from America is only permitted in accordance with the German regulations governing meat inspection. According to these regulations the importation of certain articles of meat is forbidden without any exception, and for other meats the regulations are so extremely severe that it is almost impossible for the importer to comply with them. This, therefore, practically amounts to absolute prohibition. The undersigned avails, etc. File No. 821/41. No. 217.] MILHALOVICH. The Secretary of State to Ambassador Francis. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Referring to previous correspondence on the subject of restrictions on American meats in Austria and Hungary, I inclose here with copy of a letter from the Secretary of Agriculture calling attention to the efficient law and regulations which this Government has regarding the inspection of meat and meat food products entering into interstate or foreign commerce. The department feels that it will be proper to bring again this matter to the notice of the Government to which you are accredited. You are therefore instructed to take appropriate action, in the sense of Secretary Wilson's letter. I am, etc., E. ROOT. [Inclosure.] The Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary of State. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 18th and 24th ultimo, inclosing translation of notes received from Ambassador Francis, of Vienna. It would seem from the tone of these letters that no representations that this Government could make would be acceptable to Austria-Hungary. However, it would probably be advisable again to call attention to the efficient law and regulations which this Government has regarding the importation of meat and meat food products which enter into interstate or foreign commerce, and to assure them that this law and the regulations are strictly enforced. A copy of these regulations is inclosed herewith, together with an article on meat inspection by the Chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry, which explains in detail the method of conducting the inspection from the time of the slaughter of the animals. The inspection of pork for trichinæ has never been general in this country and was only made for such pork products as were destined to certain foreign countries, including Germany and Austria-Hungary. In the case of Germany this pork was reinspected again after its arrival, and it was considered unnecessary that it should be inspected both in this country and Germany. This inspection when carried out under the most favorable conditions is not thoroughly efficient, as some meat affected with trichinæ to a slight degree may not be detected. Records obtained in Germany and elsewhere prove this assertion. There can be no danger, however, from pork when thoroughly cured, such as would be prepared for export There can be objection on the part of this country to submitting pork from the United States to such inspection after its arrival at a foreign port, providing this rule is applied to all other countries. I have the honor, etc., JAMES WILSON. File No. 821/42-43. No. 520.] Ambassador Francis to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your No. 217, dated April 29, relative to the subject of restrictions on American meats in Austria and Hungary, and inclosing copy of a letter from the Secretary of Agriculture calling attention to the efficient law. and regulations which the American Government has regarding the inspection of meat and meat food products entering into interstate or foreign commerce. Following the instructions of the department, I shall to-day bring this matter again to the notice of the Imperial and Royal Government in the sense of Secretary Wilson's letter (copy of note inclosed). I am, etc., [Inclosure.] CHARLES S. FRANCIS. Ambassador Francis to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. F. O. No. 174.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, YOUR EXCELLENCY: Supplementing my previous correspondence with your excellency on the subject of the restrictions now enforced on the introduction of American meats into Austria and Hungary, I have the honor to submit to your excellency copies of publications recently issued by the United States Department of Agriculture relative to the Federal Meat Inspection Service and Regulations Governing the Meat Inspection of the United States Department of Agriculture. A perusal of the efficient law and regulations which the American Government now has regarding the inspection of meat and food products to be exported taken with the assurance that such law and regulations are strictly enforced, would indicate the absolute protection to foreign countries of the importation within their boundaries from the United States of meats and meat products which are not wholesome. Trusting that, through the friendly offices of your excellency, this subject may be duly presented at an early date to the Governments of Austria and Hungary, I embrace this opportunity, etc., SIR: I have the honor to inclose a copy (with translation) of the official Weiner Zeitung containing the letters of the Emperor to the prime ministers of Austria and of Hungary, to the minister for foreign affairs, to the general minister of finance (who has until now. managed the two Provinces), and finally a proclamation to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will be noted that in the note addressed to Baron Aehrenthal, the minister for foreign affairs, the Emperor orders the evacuation of the Sandjak of Novi-bazar, which has been occupied by the imperial and royal troops since 1879. The Sandjak of Novi-bazar is that narrow strip of Turkish territory lying between Servia and Montenegro and bounded on the north by Bosnia. Quiet prevails in the Provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the population in the majority accept their annexation to AustriaHungary with enthusiasm. GEORGE BARCLAY RIVES. I have, etc., |