just been killed. He stated that the whole production from the establishment was exported. 466 Where to?' asked the reporter. "To Norway,' answered he, 'people like it over there.' "How much is paid for a horse? "Well, horses come high now, we pay as much as $5 a piece, but then the hide and hoofs is worth that much, so the meat is cheap profit.' "In Norway,' he answered, as he with a knowing smile resumed his work." No. 58.] Mr. Hay to Mr. Thomas. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, June 15, 1899. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 85, of the 30th ultimo, inclosing copy of your note to the foreign office, urging the acceptance by the Government of Norway of the United States certificates and meat-inspection stamps without the requirement of their authentication by a consular officer of Sweden and Norway. Copy of your dispatch has been forwarded to the Secretary of Agriculture. I inclose for your information copy of a letter from that officer relative to the exportation of horse meat from the United States. I am, etc. [Inclosure.] Mr. Wilson to Mr. Hay. JOHN HAY. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge, with thanks, receipt of your letter of the 2d instant inclosing a copy of a dispatch from the consul at Christiania, Norway, transmitting a translation of a newspaper article in regard to the alleged exportation of horse meat to Norway. The consul deplores the present state of affairs and deems it his duty to keep the Department posted, so that the evil can be remedied in some way if it possibly can be done. In reference to this it may be said that there is a legitimate demand for horse flesh in certain European countries, and that such meat from healthy horses is just as wholesome an article of food as the meat from any other animals. Congress has recognized this fact and has granted to establishments slaughtering horses the same privilege of inspection which is given for other kinds of meat. It should be clearly stated, however, that all such meat inspected by this Department is plainly marked to show that it is horse flesh, and that in case it is exported it must be shipped with marks which clearly show its origin and character. This Department would make no objection to regulations on the part of Norway requiring that all horse flesh imported into that country should be inspected and bear the official inspection marks; but it does object, and with reason, to discriminations against this product from America when similar goods are imported from other parts of the world which have been neither inspected nor marked to identify the packages as containing horse flesh. In this connection I may state my opinion that there has not been a very large quantity of horse meat exported from this country. The singie establishment at which inspection has been instituted made, I believe, but one shipment to Europecertainly not more than two-and the business has been suspended. I doubt if the small establishments about Jersey City, which are referred to in the article inclosed by Mr. Bordewich, export much of their product. The indications are that it is sold locally to the purchasers of inferior meats in the large cities of this country. However, Norway or any other country can protect itself against unwholesome meat by requiring, first, that all horse flesh shall be marked to show what it is, and secondly, that it shall have been officially inspected at the time of slaughter. Very respectfully, JAMES WILSON, Secretary. Mr. Thomas to Mr. Hay. No. 88.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Stockholm, June 20, 1899. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 56, of June 7, relative to the subject of the importation of American meats into Norway. I am giving this subject my earnest attention and having frequent friendly and informal conferences with the foreign office thereon, which I hope will result in the removal of any restrictions upon the importation of American meat products into Sweden and Norway to which we can reasonably object. I have, etc., Mr. Thomas to Mr. Hay. W. W. THOMAS, Jr. No. 91.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 58, of June 15, inclosing copy of a letter from the Secretary of Agriculture relative to the exportation of horse meat from the United States to Norway. Referring also to your instructions No. 51, of March 27, No. 53, of April 5, No. 54, of April 18, and No. 55, of June 5, and the inclosures therein transmitted, especially the dispatches of our consul at Christiania, disclosing the unsatisfactory restrictions and regulations placed upon the importation of American meat products into Norway, it suggests itself to me that it would be advantageous to have a personal conference with Consul Bordewich on the subject. I will endeavor, therefore, to make such arrangements as will enable me to visit him for that purpose at an early day. I have, etc., W. W. THOMAS, Jr. Mr. Adee to Mr. Thomas. No. 64.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I inclose for your information a copy of a dispatch from the consul of the United States at Gothenburg under date of July 7, 1899, transmitting a copy of the law of Sweden governing the importation of horse meat into that country, and recommending to exporters of such meat in this country a careful observance of the regulations. A copy of this dispatch was sent to the Secretary of Agriculture, and under date of August 3, 1899, the Acting Secretary, after acknowledging the receipt of the dispatch, observes as follows: I note in this connection the consul's statement that objections have also been raised to the word "inspector" on the Department of Agriculture certificate of inspection. the customs authorities claiming that this does not satisfy them that the inspector is a veterinarian, and as such competent to judge as to the condition of the meat and to sign the certificate. In my opinion this Government should not admit that such an objection is justified, since the fact that an inspector is appointed by this Department and assigned to the duty of issuing certificates should be sufficient guaranty that he is competent to do this class of work. As a matter of fact, all the meat inspectors of this Department are veterinarians, but we should not admit the right of any foreign government to question the qualifications of our inspectors. As it is not believed that anything material will be gained by arguing the question with the Swedish authorities, you are authorized to say that the matter has been presented to your Government in the light of the consul's dispatch, and that you are now in receipt of information, through this Department, from the Secretary of Agriculture, whose Department is charged with the appointment of such inspectors, that, as a matter of fact, all such inspectors are veterinarians. It may be added that the inspection is thorough and complete under the laws of the United States and the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture. I am, etc., ALVEY A. ADEE. [Inclosure.] Mr. Bergh to Mr. Hill. CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Referring to reports from this office of February 9, 1899, and January 23, 1899, concerning the importation of horse meat, I have the honor to inclose two copies of the law governing the importation of horse meat into Sweden; also translation of the same. I have had opportunity to learn that the customs officials are trying hard to effectually bar out American horse meat, and I therefore will suggest that the exporters follow the regulations prescribed by the Swedish Government to the letter. The barrels must be sealed carefully, so that opening on the way is impossible without detection. The importation of horse meat in cans is entirely out of the question under the present circumstances, as the veterinary insists on examining every piece of meat, and consequently has to open each can. Nothing but the best of meat will be accepted by the authorities; if any second or third class meat arrives it will be destroyed, causing loss to the exporter. Objections have also been raised to the word "inspector" on the Department of Agriculture certificate of inspection. The customs authorities claim that this does not satisfy them that the “inspector" is a veterinary, and as such competent to judge as to the condition of the meat and to sign the certificate. I have, etc., [Subinclosure.] ROBERT S. S. BERGH, Consul. On the 4th day of February, 1898, the Swedish Government decided to issue the following regulations concerning the importation of horse meat, which regulations were published in circular No. 7, dated the 25th same month: [Translation.] Horse meat which is imported from foreign countries shall be accompanied by certificate from a veterinarian residing in the country of exportation to the effect that the meat is from fully healthy animals; and the veterinarian's competence to issue such certificate shall be verified by Swedish and Norwegian consul at the place of exportation, or, if none such reside there, by some constituted authority thereof. PARAGRAPH 2. On the meat, or if it arrives packed up, on the casings, shall be placed in unimpaired condition a mark provided with the signature of the abovementioned veterinarian, and, furthermore, notations which indicate that the mark bears relation to the same article that is mentioned in the accompanying certificate; and such mark shall, when on the casing, be so placed that thereby is gained reasonable security for, that the casing has not been opened after the mark was put on. PARAGRAPH 3. Horse meat which is imported into the Kingdom shall, before clearance at customs, at the expense of the owner and at the order of the proper sanitary authorities, be inspected by a legitimate veterinarian in order to ascertain whether or not the same is fit for human food. No. 100.] Mr. Thomas to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Stockholm, August 28, 1899. SIR: Referring to instructions of the Department, No. 53 of May 5, No. 54 of May 18, No. 55 of June 5, No. 56 of June 7, and No. 58 of June 15, and to my dispatches, No. 83 of May 15, No. 85 of May 30, No. 88 of June 20, and No. 91 of June 27; also to my notes to the foreign office of April 12 and May 3 last, copies of which are herewith inclosed, all relative to the new Norwegian rules affecting meat exports from the United States, I have the honor now to forward you a copy of a note from the minister for foreign affairs, of August 12, accompanied by a translation thereof; also copy of a letter from the minister of justice and the police of Norway of August 8, with translation, and copy of notice of the board of health of the city of Christiania, dated April 21 last, with translation. From the six latter inclosures it will be seen that the board of health of Christiania, before making final decision on the question of accepting the certificates and meat-inspection stamps of the Government of the United States without the authentication by a Swedish-Norwegian consul at the port of shipment, desires to know if all the inspectors of the Department of Agriculture are veterinary surgeons; and if this is the case, the board wishes to receive from the Department of Agriculture, through our consul at Christiania, a list "à tenir à jour" of the inspectors in question, accompanied by a facsimile of their signatures. Furthermore, at the request of the minister of justice and the police of Norway, Count Douglas, desires to be informed by me if all said inspectors are veterinary surgeons, and if such be the case, whether the Department of Agriculture will be disposed to furnish such a list of them as is above requested. Asking that the information requested by Count Douglas be furnished me, I have, etc., [Inclosure 1.] W. W. THOMAS, Jr. Mr. Thomas to Count Douglas. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Stockholm, April 12, 1899. SIR: In compliance with instructions from the Secretary of State, I have the honor to inclose copy of a letter from the Secretary of Agriculture, stating that he has been advised that either the Norwegian health department or that of Christiania would execute a much more rigid control of imported beef, pork, sausage, etc., than heretofore, and would require all certificates of inspection signed by United States Government inspectors to be identified and certified by the Norwegian consul. I am also instructed to inquire whether the regulation referred to is one of the Norwegian Government or of the local municipality of Christiania, and further to express the hope that the official certificates of the United States Government inspectors may be accepted without question, as indicated by the Secretary of Agriculture in his letter herewith inclosed. I beg, etc., W. W. THOMAS, Jr. [Inclosure 2.] Mr. Thomas to Count Douglas. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Referring to my note of April 12 last, I have the honor to call your excellency's attention to the new rules of the board of health of Christiania, promulgated February 1 last, affecting meat exports from the United States. I am informed that under these rules the president of the board of health, Mr. G. E. Bentzen, takes the ground that the inspection certificates of the United States Government should be authenticated by a Swedish-Norwegian consul at the port of shipment. In compliance with instruction from the Secretary of State, I have the honor to request that the certificates and meat-inspection stamps of the Government of the United States may be accepted without the required authentication by a SwedishNorwegian consul. The Government of the United States does not understand the necessity for the consular authentication, nor perceive what additional security is given to the consumer thereby. It, of course, does not claim that the inspected meat will keep indefinitely: the inspection simply determines that the animals are healthy at the time of slaughter. MR. MINISTER: By two letters, dated April 12 and May 30 last, you were pleased to address yourself to the intermediacy of this office in order that the certificates and stamps of the Government of the United States for the inspection of meat may be accepted by the sanitary authorities of Christiania without authentication by a consular officer of the United Kingdoms. The minister of justice and of the police of the said city, to whom this matter has been referred, has just addressed me the letter, with inclosure, herewith inclosed in copy, by which you will be pleased to see that the health commission of Christiania, before taking a final decision with regard to the authentication, desires to know if all the inspectors named by the Department of Agriculture at Washington are veterinary surgeons. In this case the commission desires to obtain from the Department of Agriculture, through the United States consul at Christiania, a list à tenir à jour" of the said inspectors, accompanied, if possible, by a fac simile of their signatures. At the request of the minister of justice and of the police. I therefore request you to be pleased to inform me if all the inspectors in the United States are veterinary surgeons, and in that case if the Department of Agriculture would be disposed to furnish the said list. Be pleased to accept, etc., DOUGLAS. |