[Inclosure 3 in No. 225.] Mr. Terrell to the Prince de Chimay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Brussels, August 7, 1891. PRINCE: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency's esteemed communication of the 5th instant, on the subject of the sanitary regulations enforced in Belgium as to dressed beef carcasses imported from the United States. I deeply regret being under the necessity of reporting to my Government the conclusion. reached by your excellency's Government on this subject. The regulations now enforced requiring that the carcasses of dressed beef imported from the United States into Belgium shall be accompanied by the lungs of the animals respectively, are practically prohibitory of all importation of this important article of American commerce. I greatly regret that your excellency's Government has not seen fit to recommend to the legislature a simple amendment of the law, providing that it should not be applicable to the products of those countries whose sanitary regulations on the subject of the exportation of dressed beef should be found satisfactory to the ministry of agriculture, industry, and public works. Just at the time when other European powers are showing every disposition to modify restrictive measures heretofore enforced against American beef and pork products, it seems to me as greatly to be regretted that Belgium should take so inflexible a position; especially in view of the vigorous and effective efforts now being made by the United States Government to insure beyond all question the wholesome character of these products exported from its ports. I should be deeply indebted if your excellency would kindly furnish me with a copy of the law of June 18, 1887, referred to in the communication which I have had the honor to receive, for the purpose of transmitting the same to my Government. I desire, on the part of my Government, to express the pleasure with which I have learned, by your esteemed communication, of the further reduction of the quarantine on American cattle imported into Belgium from five days to three. I am sure this important and advantageous modification of the quarantine law will be highly appreciated by my Government. Please receive, etc. EDWIN H. TERRELL. [Inclosure 4 in No. 225-Translation.] Decree modifying quarantine laws. BRUSSELS, July 21, 1891. The ministry of agriculture, industry, and public works, considering the royal decree of October 13, 1890 modifying article 49 of the law of general administration of eptember 25, 1883, relative to the sanitary police of domestic animals, and also considering the ministerial decree of December 15, 1890, modifying ministerial decree No. 3, of September 25, 1883, decrees: ARTICLE 1. Animals of the bovine, ovine, and porcine species imported through the ports of Antwerp, Gand, and Ostend shall be held there in quarantine for three days. Exception to this regulation may be made in the case of animals intended for raising. ART. 2. The ministerial decree of December 15, 1890, is repealed. LEON DE BRUYN. [Inclosure 5 in No. 225.-Translation.] The Prince de Chimay to Mr. Terrell. - MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Brussels, September 2, 1891. Mr. MINISTER: In order to satisfy the desire which your excellency has expressed, I hasten to forward a copy of the law of June 18, 1887, establishing an import duty on cattle and neats. This law was published in the Moniteur of July 1, 1887. The minister of agriculture, industry, and public works, to whom I communicated the note which your excelleney sent me the 7th of August last, begs me to cause you to be informed of an opinion which he has given recently to the minister of finance, touching a question which interests American commerce. Mr. De Bruyn considers that, in view of the results of an inquiry which two inspectors of his department have made, it is necessary to regard as prepared meats pork meats imported from America after having been subjected to brine and borax treatment; they are not then to be, according to him, assimilated to the fresh meats whose importation is subject to the régime of the law of the 18th of June, 1887. I seize this occasion, etc., THE PRINCE DE CHIMAY. [Inclosure 6 in No. 225.-Translation.] Law of June 18, 1887. Leopold II, etc. The chambers have adopted and we sanction the following: ARTICLE 1. The import duties upon cattle and meats are established as follows: Borine species.-Bulls and young bulls, 4 centimes per kilogram live weight; beeves, young beeves, calves, and calves not having milk teeth razed, 5 centimes per kilogram live weight; cows and heifers, 3 centimes per kilogram live weight. Ovine species.-Rams, sheep, and wethers, 2.50 francs per head; lambs, 1 franc per head. Fresh meats.-Entire animals, halves, 15 centimes per kilogram; other animals and game, 30 centimes per kilogram. Beginning with January 1, 1888, fresh butchered meats will not be admitted to entry except as entire carcasses, half carcasses, or forequarters, and on condition that the lungs be adhering. ART. 2. The Government is authorized to permit, under the conditions which a royal decree will determine, the admission in provisional franchise of duties cattle of foreign origin sent to fairs and markets in Belgium and destined for reëxportation. ART. 3. The Government is authorized to prescribe by royal decree, in the radius reserved from custom-house, the measures which it will judge necessary for the prevention of the fraudulent importation of cattle. We promulgate, etc. Mr. Wharton to Mr. Terrell. No. 160.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 5, 1891. SIR: Referring to your dispatch No. 225, of the 10th ultimo, relative to the regulations enforced in Belgium as to imported carcasses of dressed beef, I transmit to you herewith a copy of a letter from the Secretary of Agriculture on the subject. You will use your own discretion as to the best manner of presenting the matter to the Belgian Government with a view to securing the removal of the restrictions complained of. I am, etc., WILLIAM F. WHARTON, Acting Secretary. [Inclosure in No. 160.] Mr. Rusk to Mr. Blaine. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your esteemed favor of the 25th ultimo, inclosing a dispatch from the American minister at Brussels relative to his efforts to obtain a modification of the regulations of the Government of Belgium which prohibit the introduction of American fresh beef. I would very respectfully request that our minister to Belgium be again directed to urgently insist upon the repeal by the Government of that country of that provision of its laws which requires carcasses of dressed beef imported from America to be accompanied by the lung adherent thereto. This regulation practically prohibits all exportation of dressed beef from the United States to Belgium, as our shipments of beeves are made in quarters, the lung being removed at time of slaughter, and it is therefore not practicable to ship them adherent to the carcasses. The inspection laws of this country provide for both an ante and post mortem examination of all animals killed for exportation, and an official certification by officers of this Government as to the healthfulness of the animal at time of slaughter. The continuance by Belgium of this law is therefore not only an unjust discrimination against our dressed-beef products, but is a reflection on the character of our inspection. Trusting that such reasons will be given to the Government of Belgium as will induce it to modify this unwarranted provision of law maintained against the freshmeat products of this country, I have, etc., J. M. RUSK, Secretary. No. 231.] Mr. Terrell to Mr. Blaine. [Extract.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Brussels, October 31, 1891. (Received November 12.) SIR: Referring to your No. 160, of October 5, on the subject of the regulations enforced in Belgium as to the carcasses of dressed beef imported from the United States, I have the honor to state that I have addressed another communication on the subject to the Prince de Chimay, minister of foreign affairs, a copy of which I beg to inclose herewith for your information. Referring to the letter of the honorable the Secretary of Agriculture, inclosed with your instruction, it would seem that the Secretary regards the Belgian regulation requiring dressed beef carcasses to be accompanied by the lungs of the animals respectively as applied solely to these products coming from the United States, and as thus plainly discriminating against our interests. The law, however, is a general one, applicable to the dressed beef imported from Germany, Holland, and other countries, as well as from the United States. It is claimed by the Belgian Government that the law under which the regulation is made, and a copy of which accompanied my dispatch No. 225, was passed solely as a sanitary measure. It is for the reason that the law is general in its application and applicable to the dressed-beef products of all foreign countries that I have suggested that it be so amended as to permit of its being dispensed with in favor of the products of any country whose sanitary inspection laws are found to be satisfactory by the Belgian minister of agriculture. I have, etc., [Inclosure in No. 231.] EDWIN H. TERRELL. Mr. Terrell to the Prince de Chimay. LEGATION OF the United States, PRINCE: I have the honor to inform your excellency that some six weeks ago I duly forwarded to my Government copies of the correspondence exchanged between the Belgian Government and this legation on the subject of the regulations enforced in Belgium as to dressed beef imported from the United States, requiring that such beef carcasses should be accompanied by the lungs of the animals attached thereto, respectively. The United States Government has thoroughly considered the entire subject in the light of the replies of your excellency to my communications, and I am now in receipt of further instructions directly relating to this matter. My Government regards these regulations of Belgium as entirely prohibitive of all importations of dressed beef carcasses into Belgium from the United States, and as in their effect essentially discriminating against one of the most important products of our country. Your excellency has been pleased to inform me heretofore that these regulations are enforced under a law which it is not possible for the Government of the King to change. From the language of the law it is to be presumed that the law in question was enacted with a view to establishing certain sanitary measures as to beef products imported into the country. Since the passage of that law the United States has put into force the most thorough and searching inspection regulations as to its beef and pork products designed for exportation to foreign countries ever instituted, I venture to say, by any government on earth. Since these regulations were first established additional and even more stringent requirements have been imposed by the Department of Agriculture, so that to-day they constitute a most efficient and entirely satisfactory body of sanitary measures, absolutely assuring beyond question the quality of the products thus intended for exportation. These inspection laws provide for an ante-mortem and post-mortem examination of all animals killed for exportation, and for official certification by Government officers as to the healthfulness of the animal at time of slaughter, all of which is evidenced by marks attached to the carcasses. The shipments of these beef products are made in quarters, the lungs being removed at the time of slaughter, and it is therefore not practicable nor possible to ship them adherent to the carcasses. It seems to my Government that the continuance by Belgium of its strange requirement is not only a discrimination against an important product of our country, but a serious reflection upon the character of our inspection laws. The Governments of Germany, Denmark, and Italy, after prohibiting absolutely for some years-on what has turned out to be groundless objections-the importation of beef and pork products from the United States, have, through thorough examination made by special expert commissions respectively, become entirely satisfied with the efficient sanitary inspection laws and regulations now so rigidly enforced in the United States, and have promptly and in the most liberal spirit rescinded their restrictive measures and opened their ports to the admission of these articles of commerce. France, through her Chamber of Deputies, has already taken the same action, which will undoubtedly be ratified by her Senate. Thus from now on shipments of American cattle, beef and pork carcasses, and meat products can be made to any country in Europe, without discriminating or prohibitive measures being applied to them, except in Belgium. Surely the friendly spirit which has always been shown to the Government of Belgium by the United States would seem to suggest a prompt removal of the restrictive regulations under discussion. Your excellency has observed that the regulation can not be modified because it is enforced under a law, but surely a law can be amended. As I had the honor to suggest in a former communication to your excellency, the law could be amended so as to provide that the requirement that the carcasses imported should have the lungs of the animals adherent could be dispensed with by the minister of agriculture as to the products of any country whose sanitary inspection laws should be deemed satisfactory by him. My Government trusts that on a careful reconsideration of this matter the Belgian Government may see that it is decidedly to the interest of its people and of its commerce, and at the same time fair to a friendly government, to bring about the removal of this regulation. Stringent measures of this character, producing in effect unjust discriminations against the products of another country and practically prohibiting their importation frequently lead to retaliatory measures, which are always deeply to be regretted. I profit, etc., EDWIN H. TERRELL. No. 31.] BRAZIL. Mr. Conger to Mr. Blaine. [Extract.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Rio de Janeiro, March 6, 1891. (Received April 10.) SIR: I have the honor to report that the constitutional congress met on the 15th day of November last, and after having considered the constitution submitted by the Provisional Government adopted it with but few amendments. In addition to the election of Gen. Deodora as President, of which I informed you by cable, Gen. Floriana Peixoto was elected Vice-President, and the day after the election the President was inaugurated, taking the oath of office in the presence of the members of Congress and a large number of citizens. There were no special ceremonies attendant upon the inauguration, and, as no invitation was extended to the diplomatic corps, I was not present. I have, etc., Mr. Wharton to Mr. Conger. E. H. CONGER. No. 62.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I inclose for your information a copy of a letter from Messrs. Charles Ahrenfeldt & Son, of New York, in which they complain that the government of the State of Amazonas imposes a tax of 5 per cent on rubber from Peru in transit for New York down the Amazon River. As no entry of the rubber is made at Manaos, it is claimed that the tax is unreasonable and in violation of the practice of commercial nations. You will inquire into the matter, and if the facts appear as stated make proper representations against this tax. I am, etc., WILLIAM F. WHARTON, [Inclosure in No. 62.] Charles Ahrenfeldt & Son to Mr Blaine. NEW YORK, May 29, 1891. DEAR SIR: We are interested in a house in Peru, South America, which ships to us as remittances crude rubber. This rubber is shipped to Para via the Amazon River and then to New York, and passes in transit through the Brazilian State Amazonas (formerly the Brazilian province of Amazonas). The governor of this State has recently issued a notice compelling a tax of 5 per cent to be paid on all such shipments passing through his State. |
