councils, and which extends the provisions of sections 116-119 of the public health act, 1875; and also to section 47 of the public health (London) act, 1891. Copies of the above-mentioned acts are inclosed for your excellency's information. I have, etc., KIMBERLEY. Mr. Roosevelt to Mr. Olney. No. 459.1 EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Referring to your instruction No. 681, of the 29th of April last, I have the honor to inclose herewith copy of a note addressed by Mr. Bayard to the secretary of state for foreign affairs on the 20th ultimo, together with the reply thereto of the 19th instant, relating to the restrictions which are imposed upon the admission of American cattle to British ports. It will be observed with regret that the British board of agriculture decline to modify the present regulations, requiring the slaughter at the port of debarkation of cattle imported from the United States. I have, etc., JAMES R. ROOSEVELT. [Inclosure 1 to No. 459.] Mr. Bayard to the Earl of Kimberley. EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, MY LORD: I have the honor to ask your lordship that representations may be made to the proper local authorities having control of the reception and distribution throughout this Kingdom of cattle imported from the United States for food purposes, in order that the interests of all parties concerned in production, transportation, agistment, and consumption may be alike favorably treated. I am instructed that the restrictions at present applied prevent the convenient distribution throughout the Kingdom of American cattle to British pasturage and their consequent increase in weight and improvement, with profit to the agriculturist as we.. as to the butcher. From a sanitary point of view, the American inspection, I am assured, leaves nothing to be desired, and the proof is unquestioned that not a single case of disease has been introduced by cattle shipped from the United States, having first undergone there the inspection prescribed by law; so that the intermingling of such live stock with the herds of these islands would in no degree endanger the health of the latter. Penning up the cattle on their arrival at Birkenhead and other ports of entry, and compelling their speedy slaughter at these points, unquestionably creates an adverse discrimination against the ownership of the cattle so treated, and at the same time interferes with an improvement in their weight and value which would be to the profit of British subjects, arising out of their transportation inland, and their preparation for market at convenient points in the hands of purchasers in this country. The interests connected with agriculture are just now everywhere depressed, and it is quite obvious that cooperation to relieve these producers, as well as the great body of consumers, is most desirable and worthy of encouragement. Information has been given at this embassy of energetic efforts on the part of the classes in this country directly interested in the trade in live cattle to obtain by amendatory legislation a relaxation of those ironbound restrictions which compel almost instant slaughter of cattle at the points of arrival, and forbid transportation inland to wholesome and improving pastures, at localities adapted to the preparation of cattle for market. Under the instructions of my Government I beg very respectfully to urge these considerations upon those charged with Her Majesty's Government, so that the trade between the two countries may be increased for the mutual benefit of both, and to that end present restrictions which are without apparent benefit to anyone may be relaxed in the interests of everyone. I have, etc., T. F. BAYARD. [Inclosure 2 to No. 459.] The Earl of Kimberley to Mr. Bayard. FOREIGN OFFICE, June 19, 1895. YOUR EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to state that the note of the 20th ultimo respecting the regulations requiring the slaughter of cattle imported from the United States has received most careful consideration by the board of agriculture. The board regret that it is not possible for them, consistently with their statutory obligations, to comply with the wishes expressed by your excellency, and to dispense with the requirement in question. Since the date of the Earl of Rosebery's note of the 14th of March, 1893, cattle have from time to time been landed in this country from the United States which on examination have been found to be affected with pleuro-pneumonia, and this fact of itself, the board observe, leaves them no alternative but to come to the conclusion that this requirement must be maintained. I have, etc., KIMBERLEY. Mr. Uhl to Mr. Roosevelt. No. 776.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to inform you that your dispatch No. 459, of the 21st ultimo, inclosing copies of correspondence with the British foreign office, relative to the regulations governing the importation of Ameri can cattle into Great Britain, has been received and a copy thereof communicated to the Secretary of Agriculture. I am, etc., EDWIN F. UHL, Acting Secretary. No. 637.] Mr. Bayard to Mr. Olney. EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith, for the information of your colleague, the Secretary of the Treasury, clippings from to-day's Times, giving the report of a debate in the House of Commons on the "Diseases of animals bill," together with two copies of a public document having relation thereto. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for transmission to your colleague, the Secretary of Agriculture, clippings from the Times of yesterday's date relating to the Canadian cattle trade. I have, etc., T. F. BAYARD. Mr. Dabney to Mr. Olney. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D. C., May 21, 1896. SIR: I am in receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, inclosing copy of a resolution of the House of Representatives, dated the 8th instant asking for information as to what, if anything, has been done by the State Department to carry out certain provisions of the act of Congress making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the year 1896. You inquire whether this Department has carried on any correspondence in regard to the subject which in my opinion ought to be communicated to the House of Representatives in response to the resolution. This Department has conducted no correspondence on the subject mentioned, except with the Department of State. There have been representations made from time to time by this Department running through a number of years, which I understand have been used by your Department in its diplomatic negotiations with the Government of Great Britain. The provision you refer to was also enacted in the act of Congress making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the year ending June 30, 1895. As this Department had in its correspondence with your Department placed the information in its possession, it was not considered necessary to draft any special correspondence under the provision mentioned. I have, etc., CHAS. W. DABNEY, Jr., Mr. Roosevelt to Mr. Olney. No. 740.] EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith copies of the diseases of animals act, 1896, as passed, together with copies of the act of 1894, which it amends-and I am informed, in reply to an inquiry made by me at the British board of agriculture, that the amended act comes into operation on January 1, 1897. The act as amended deprives the Department of Agriculture of the power of suspending altogether the prohibition against the importation of cattle alive into the United Kingdom; but in no way affects their importation and slaughter on landing (as has been the practice with American cattle since 1879), under the provisions of Schedule III of the act of 1894, which remain in force; provided always that foot and mouth disease, or rinderpest, shall not have been declared to exist in the country from which the cattle are exported. Of course there is always a possibility of an increased stringency in the regulations applicable to cattle after landing and before slaughterwhich might so interfere with the trade that profitable importation would be well-nigh impossible, but no change in the existing regulations has, up to the present time, occurred. I have, etc., JAMES R. ROOSEVELT. (59 & 60 Vict.) DISEASES OF ANIMALS ACT, 1896. CHAPTER 15.—An aot to amend the diseases of animals act, 1894. (Ch. 15.) (20TH JULY, 1896.) Be it enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords, spiritual and temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1. (1) For section twenty-four of the diseases of animals act, 1894, shall be substituted the following section, namely: "The provisions set forth in Part I (slaughter at port of landing) of the third schedule to this act shall apply to all foreign animals other than (a) Foreign animals, the landing of which is for the time being prohibited by order of the board of agriculture; and (b) Foreign animals intended for exhibition or other exceptional purposes, and the landing of which is allowed for the time being by the board, subject to the provisions of Part II (quarantine) of the third schedule to this act.' (2) Section twenty-six of the diseases of animals act, 1894, is hereby repealed. 2. This act shall come into operation on the first day of January next after the passing hereof. 3. This act may be cited as the diseases of animals act, 1896, and shall be construed as one with the diseases of animals act, 1894, and that act and this act may be cited together as the diseases of animals acts, 1894 and 1896. Section 24 of the diseases of animals act, 1894, amended by the diseases of animals act, 1896. FOREIGN ANIMALS. 24. The provisions set forth in Part I (slaughter at port of landing) of the third schedule to this act shall apply to all foreign animals other than (a) Foreign animals the landing of which is for the time being prohibited by order of the board of agriculture; (b) Foreign animals the landing of which is allowed by order of the board without being subject to the provisions of this act to slaughter or quarantine; and (c) Foreign animals intended for exhibition or other exceptional purposes, and the landing of which is allowed for the time being by the board subject to the provisions of Part II (quarantine) of the third schedule to this act. Section 26 of the diseases of animals act, 1894, repealed by the diseases of animals act, 1896. FOREIGN ANIMALS. 26. In relation to foreign animals other than those the landing whereof is for the time being prohibited by order of the board of agriculture, and other than those brought from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, if and so long as the board are satisfied with respect to any country out of the United Kingdom or any specified part of such country that the laws thereof relating to the importation and exportation of animals, and to the prevention of the introduction or spreading of disease, and the general sanitary condition of animals therein, are such as to afford reason able security against the importation therefrom of diseased animals, the board, by order, shall allow animals, or any specified kind of animals, brought from that country, or such part to be landed without being subject to the provisions of the third schedule to this act, as to slaughter or quarantine, and may for that purpose alter or add to those provisions as the case may require. Provided, that the admission of such animals shall be subject to such regulations as to the route by which the animals are conveyed to this country, quarantine, or otherwise, as the board of agriculture may by order direct. The third schedule, Part I, referred to in sections 24 and 26 of the diseases of animals act, 1894, and in section 1 of the diseases of animals act, 1896. (57 & 58 Vict.) DISEASES OF ANIMALS ACT, 1894. The third schedule. FOREIGN ANIMALS. PART I.-Slaughter at port of landing. (Ch. 57.) 1. The animals shall be landed only at a part of a port defined for that purpose by order of the board of agriculture, to be called a foreign animals' wharf. 2. The animals shall be landed in such manner, at such time, and subject to such supervision and control as the commissioners of customs direct. 3. The animals shall not be moved alive out of the wharf. RECIPROCITY IN MARITIME CHARGES.' Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Olney. BRITISH EMBASSY, Washington, June 9, 1896. SIR: With reference to my note of the 21st February last, and to previous correspondence respecting the alleged discrimination against United States vessels in Canadian ports on the Great Lakes, I have the honor to inform you that the Governor-General of Canada has approved a minute of his privy council, recommending the revocation of the regulations complained of and the abolition of all fees hitherto exacted from vessels navigating inland waters when entering or clearing above Montreal. The Dominion Government are unable entirely to concur in the views expressed in your note to me of the 18th February in regard to the question of reciprocity in maritime charges, and they maintain their former contention that certain charges now exacted in United States ports from Canadian vessels constitute a discrimination in favor of United States ships. In order, however, that no cause should exist for friction with the United States authorities in regard to this matter, the minute in council recommends that the regulations which gave rise to the complaints of the United States Government should be canceled. I have not as yet received copies of the order in council giving effect to the decision arrived at by the Canadian Government, but I shall have the honor to furnish you with a copy as soon as I am in a position to do so. I have, etc., JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Olney. BRITISH EMBASSY, Washington, July 1, 1896. SIR: With reference to my note of the 9th ultimo I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the Canadian order in council, of 17th April last, abolishing the fees hitherto exacted from vessels navigating inland waters when entering or clearing from any port above Montreal. I have, etc., [Inclosure.] Order in council. JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. AT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, Present: His Excellency the Governor-General in council. His excellency, in virtue of the provisions of section 112 of "the customs act," chapter 32, of the revised statutes, and by and with the advice of the Queen's privy council for Canada, is pleased to order that the regulation established by the order in council of the 22d of May, 1889, enacting that the fee to be exacted from all vessels navigating inland waters when entering or clearing at any port above Montreal shall be fifty cents for each report inwards, or clearance outwards, shall be, and the same is hereby, cancelled. NOTE.-Memo. No. 295 B is hereby cancelled. JOHN J. MCGEE, Clerk of the Privy Council. 1 See Foreign Relations, 1895, Part I, pp. 707-714. |