RECOGNITION OF UNITED STATES MEAT-INSPECTION LABELS. No. 26.] The Secretary of State to Ambassador Thompson. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 9, 1906. SIR: I inclose herewith a copy of a letter from the Secretary of Agriculture stating that it has recently been brought to the attention of the Department of Agriculture that the authorities of Mexico decline to recognize American federal meat-inspection labels, stamps, and certificates as evidence that fresh meats are fit articles for exportation to that country. You will take the matter up with the Mexican Government and endeavor to induce it to recognize the federal meat inspection and the regular certificates issued by the Department of Agriculture. I am, etc., No. 54.] ELIHU ROOT. Ambassador Thompson to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mexico, May 17, 1906. SIR: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of the department's instruction No. 26, dated the 9th instant, and its inclosure, relating to the refusal of the Mexican authorities to recognize federal meat-inspection labels, stamps, and certificates as evidence that fresh meats from the United States are fit articles of exportation to Mexico, etc. have, as directed, brought the matter to the attention of the Mexican Government by my note of this date, copy inclosed, and transmitted with it the documents to which the same refers. I have, etc., D. E. THOMPSON. [Inclosure.] Ambassador Thompson to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mr. MINISTER: I have the honor to refer your excellency to the contents of the inclosed copy of a communication from the Department of Agriculture to the Secretary of State of the United States, relating to the refusal of the Mexican authorities to recognize federal meat-inspection labels, stamps, and certificates as evidence that fresh meats from my country are fit articles of importation into Mexico, and to permit the entry of recent consignments of such meats on account of not being accompanied by the certificate required by article 67 of the Mexican customs regulations; and following the instructions of my Government, I beg to ask for your excellency's good offices before the proper department of Mexico to the end that, if consistent, the above-mentioned or any other impediments be no longer placed against the importation of said articles into this Republic. In order that your excellency's Government may acquire the conviction that meats bearing the labels, brands, and certificates of the United States are per • Not printed. fectly wholesome and free from disease, and that said inspection is strictly enforced by our federal authorities, thus insuring the same degree of safety as is aimed by the provisions of article 67 of the Mexican customs regulations, I inclose herewith copies of various sections of the United States Statutes at Large relative to the matter, and a printed pamphlet of the rules and regulations, and their amendments, for the inspection of live stock and their products. Trusting that I may receive a favorable reply upon the subject, D. E. THOMPSON. No. 76.] Ambassador Thompson to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mexico, May 31, 1906. SIR: With reference to the department's instruction No. 26, of May 9th, and to the embassy's No. 54, of May 17th, I inclose herewith a copy and translation of a note received from the foreign office under date of May 23d in which the embassy is advised that the documents regarding the inspection of American meats, transmitted by the Department in its dispatch mentioned above, have been referred to the department of hacienda for such action as it may see fit to take. I have, etc., D. E. THOMPSON. [Inclosure. Translation.] The Minister for Foreign Relations to Ambassador Thompson. DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Mr. AMBASSADOR: I have on this date, and for such action as may be expedient, transmitted to the department of the treasury the contents of your excellency's note, dated the 17th instant, and I have inclosed therewith the documents and printed matter referring to the importation and inspection of meats. I avail, etc., IGNO. MARISCAL. No. 111.] Ambassador Thompson to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mexico, July 3, 1906. SIR: Referring to my No. 76, dated May 31 last, relative to the refusal on the part of the Mexican authorities to recognize federal inspection labels, seals, and certificates on meats imported into Mexico from the United States, and to draft of proposed regulations submitted to the Mexican Government for approval, I have the honor to transmit herewith copy and translation of a note and its inclosure from the foreign office, informing me that the matter, being one in which the fiscal authorities have no interest further than to protect public health, the same has been submitted by the treasury department to that of government, to the end that after hearing the opinion of the superior board of health of Mexico the above regulations be adopted, if consistent. I have, etc., D. E. THOMPSON. [Inclosure 1.-Translation.] The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Ambassador Thompson. DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Mexico, June 19, 1906. Mr. AMBASSADOR: Referring to your excellency's courteous note, dated the 17th of May last, I have the honor to transmit a copy of a communication addressed to me by the department of the treasury relating to the inspection of meats from the United States. I avail, etc., IGNO. MARISCAL. [Subinclosure.-Translation.] The Treasury Department to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. MEXICO, June 16, 1906. Department of the Treasury and Public Credit.-Mexico.-First section.No. 5131. I received your courteous note, No. 4453, dated May 23 last, in which you have been pleased to include the one addressed to you by the ambassador of the United States of America, stating that the Mexican authorities refuse to recognize federal meat-inspection labels, seals, and certificates as evidence that fresh meats from said country can not be injurious to public health, and at the same time the department under your worthy charge asks to be informed upon the matter. In reply I have the honor to say to you that in view that in the matter in question the fiscal authority has no interest at all, since the formalities provided by article 67 of the general customs regulations have as a sole purpose to protect public health and the same were inspired by the authorities upon the subject, the case has been submitted to the department of government to the end that should it be considered advisable after hearing the opinion of the board of health to adopt the suggestions of the Government of the United States of America, this department opportunely take the proper action to put them into effect. I renew, etc., No. 313.] Ambassador Thompson to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mexico, November 15, 1906. SIR: Referring to your No. 26, of May 9, 1906, inclosing a copy of a letter from the Secretary of Agriculture and instructing me to endeavor to induce the Mexican Government to recognize the American federal meat-inspection and the regular certificates issued by the Department of Agriculture, I inclose copy and translation of a note from the foreign office, and of the communication from the department of government therewith transmitted, stating that the Mexican Government will accept the regular official certificates, viséed by the Mexican consul. I have, etc., D. E. THOMPSON. [Inclosure 1.-Translation.] The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Ambassador Thompson. DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Mr. AMBASSADOR: Referring to your excellency's courteous note dated May 17 last, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a communication dated the 3d instant, addressed to me by the department of government relative to the inspection of meats coming from the United States. I avail, etc., [Subinclosure.-Translation.] IGNO. MARISCAL. The Department of Government to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. (A seal reading :) Department of Government.-First section.-No. 2692. Under date of the 27th ultimo, the superior board of health informs this department as follows: "During the meeting held by this board on the 24th instant, a report rendered by the joint committees on federal matters and sanitary police relating to animals was approved, the same reading as follows: The department of government has been pleased to inform this board, upon the note from the American ambassador to the department of foreign affairs, with which he inclosed copy of a communication from the Department of Agriculture to the Secretary of State of the United States, relative to the denial on the part of Mexican authorities to recognize federal inspection labels, seals, and certificates upon meats as a proof that fresh meats from the American Union are fit articles on importation into Mexico, and to permit the entry of shipments of said meats because the same were not accompanied by the certificates called for by article 67 of customs regulations. The undersigned committees have made a careful study of this important matter, having before them copies in extenso of several copies of the United States statutes, laws, regulations, etc., relative to the inspection of live stock and products thereof from said nation, which said ambassador sent with his above-mentioned note, and have the honor to report the following: Owing to the influence which fresh meats exercise over public health as one of the leading articles of food, the Government of Mexico, following the initiative of this board, has devoted much attention to watching its complete sanitary condition and good preservation, and therefore has the right to demand that meats imported to the country be in said conditions. The slaughterhouse of the City of Mexico is provided with an office for the sanitary inspection of meats, equipped with microscopes and a small bacteriological laboratory under a sufficient number of chartered veterinary surgeons, who inspect with the proper care all meats, and are accustomed to such practices, after a number of years, which are daily improving the sanitary conditions of the meats for public consumption. The rule observed in said establishment to attain success provides for the examination of live animals as carefully as possible; then follows the post-mortem inspection, the microscopic examination of pork, and finally the bacteriological inspection whenever the same is required. Information has been recently received that there are in the United States packing houses in which the inspection of meats is made by experts of official character, similar to that made in Mexico, as above stated; therefore, in view of this fact, the joint committees on federal matters and sanitary police state that in their opinion the importation of fresh meats from the United States of America should be permitted when covered by federal inspection labels, seals, and certificates, as when such requisites are observed an absolute certainty is had that the legal precepts upon the matter prevail. The above conditions are extremely favorable for the admission of meats from the United States. But, as laws in force should not be disregarded, it is indispensable that, besides the fact that meats may bear the seals referred to by the ambassador of the United States, the provisions of article 35 of the sanitary code and 67 of the general customs regulations should be observed. Therefore, the undersigned committees ask the board to approve the following: 'Fresh meats from the United States of America shipped by packing houses in which sanitary inspection is officially enforced on live stock and dead meat, as well as microscopic examination of pork and bacteriological inspection when the same may be proper, shall be admitted to this country whenever the same are accompanied with an official sanitary certificate in the above terms and when said document may bear the approval of the Mexican consul. Signed: Liceaga.-Gomez.' "Which I have the honor to transmit to you for your information and in reply to the communication of that department, No. 7897, dated June 22 last." Which I transmit to you for your information and assure you of my distinguished consideration. MEXICO, November 3, 1906. CORRAL. KIDNAPING OF ANTONIO MARTINEZ. The Mexican Chargé to the Secretary of State. [Translation.] No. 159.] EMBASSY OF MEXICO, Washington, June 11, 1906. MOST EXCELLENT SIR: In May, 1905, this embassy addressed to the Hon. Francis B. Loomis, then Acting Secretary of State of the United States, a request for the extradition of Antonio Felix, who through deception laid hold upon the person of Antonio Martinez, alias Juan . Puebla, and delivered him to the American authorities. The Government of the United States, after completion of the proceedings in the case, granted the extradition of Antonio Felix in the month of December, 1905, thereby implicitly recognizing beyond question that the course taken by Felix to take Martinez, alias Puebla, out of the territory of Mexico was illegal and in contravention of the lawful procedure established by the treaty between Mexico and the United States for the extradition of any fugitive from justice. I now have the honor to inform your excellency that it has come to my Government's knowledge that the said Martinez, alias Puebla, is undergoing trial in the United States for the offense charged against him, and that it considers it self-evident that the action pending against the man can not rest as any legal foundation, since the United States itself has implicitly recognized that the means used to bring him into American territory was unlawful. I have therefore, under instructions received by me, the honor to address to you the request that Antonio Martinez, alias Juan Puebla, be returned to the Mexican territory whence he was illegally taken. I have further the honor to transmit to you the inclosed copy of the record of proceedings in the extradition case of the said Antonio Felix. Be pleased, etc., BALBINO DAVALOS. The Acting Secretary of State to the Mexican Chargé. No. 78.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, June 22, 1906. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note No. 159, of the 11th instant, requesting the return to Mexican territory of Antonio Martinez, alias Juan Puebla, who, it is alleged, was improperly brought into the United States in order to stand trial for an offense against the laws of California. You state that the person who perpetrated the alleged kidnaping, Antonio Felix, has been surrendered by this Government to Mexico, in order to stand trial for such offense, and that your Government considers it self-evident that the action pending against Martinez, alias Puebla, "can not rest upon any legal foundation, since the 59605-FR 190671 |