Mr. Olney to Mr. Uhl.
Washington, March 1, 1897.
Sir: Referring to previous correspondence concerning the alleged discrimination against American woods in the freight tariff on railways in Germany under Government control, and particularly to the Department’s instruction No. 319, of the 19th ultimo, relative to the complaint of the Austro-American Stave and Lumber Company, of Shreveport, La., on the subject, I inclose for your information copy of a further letter of the 23d ultimo for the above named company, giving a full statement of the facts relating to the matter and supporting the complaint by certain important documents in the German language.
In order to expedite the prompt decision of the question all the original papers which accompanied the letter of the Austro-American Stave [Page 243] and Lumber Company of the 23d ultimo are transmitted to you herewith, without retaining copies or translations thereof on the files of the Department.
You are instructed to make such use of the documents in question as you may deem necessary in support of any furthur representations which you may think proper to make to the German Government on the subject.
In reporting your action to the Department you may send hither translation of such documents as you may make use of in your correspondence with the Imperial foreign office in regard to the question.
I am, etc.,