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,
General Dix, Minister
of the United States at Paris