Mr. Dix to Mr. Seward

No. 21]

Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a translation of a communication received from the minister of foreign affairs in reply to inquiries made by me under instructions from you of the 15th December last, (despatch No. 4,) in relation to the cattle disease or rinderpest existing in France.

I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant,

JOHN A. DIX.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

[Translation.]

Mr. Moustier to Mr. Dix

General: In making known to me, the 4th of this month, that the federal government has the intention of removing, as soon as practicable without danger, the restriction which exists in the United States relative to the importation of cattle and hides of European production, you expressed to me the desire of obtaining, in regard to the actual condition of the contagious fevers of horned cattle in France, intelligence of such a nature as to enlighten your government upon the timeliness of the measure which it proposes to adopt.

In accordance with the desire of the minister of agriculture, of commerce and of public works, to whom I hastened to transmit your request, it is proper for me to ask you in the first place, general, to remark that the contagious fevers of horned cattle have not, for a very long time, prevailed in France. Thanks to the energy of the measures which have been adopted, our country has been spared by the “epizootie,” and, apart from a few cases, which having appeared in September and December, 1865, in the north, and at the garden of acclimatation of the Boise de Boulogne, were rapidly subdued on their first appearance, no-invasion of this formidable disease has occurred among us.

As to the measures now in force for its prevention, they are as follows:

1. Absolute prohibition of importation or transit of cattle of the class of ruminants coming from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Great Britain.

2. Introduction of animals of other countries by all the ports and custom-houses of the empire, with the exception, however, of the custom-houses on the inland frontier from the department of the Moselle, save the part which borders on the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the department of Savoy inclusively. At these last custom-houses animals cannot be introduced until after a preliminary examination by a veterinary surgeon or other competent agent, and proof of their sound sanitary condition.

3. Free entry of all remains and skins of all animals of whatever country, including butchered meats; only, leather and hides coming from Belgium, the Netherlands or Great Britain must be salted or disinfected to a sufficient degree.

In communicating this intelligence, which I hasten to bring to your notice, the minister of commerce observes, moreover, that the special measures adopted by the custom-houses situated between the department of the Moselle and that of Savoy were occasioned by the appearance of the typhus in Switzerland.

Accept the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be, general, your very humble and very obedient servant,

MOUSTIER.

General Dix, Minister of the United States at Paris