I inclose herewith a memorandum in which the circumstances which have induced
this government to ask those of other nations to join in the proposed
international sanitary conference are set forth, and which concludes with a
statement of the specific propositions which the President would desire to
submit to the conference.
In view of the urgent necessity which, according to the experience of this
government, exists for prompt action in reference to this matter, I have to
instruct you to lose no time in calling the attention of the government of
______ _______ to this subject by transmitting for its information a copy of
the memorandum above mentioned, and by asking it at the same time to take
into consideration the expediency of holding a conference of the character
proposed, and requesting it to communicate its views on the subject to this
government at as early a date as may be convenient.
You may add that it is thought by the President that such delegates as may be
appointed by the several powers to attend the proposed conference should be
authorized to conclude, if deemed expedient upon consultation, an
international convention, in relation to any proper subjects for
international sanitary regulations to be proposed for the consideration of
the governments interested.
In order that the proposed conference, if agreed to by the several foreign
governments interested in the subject, may be held at as early a period as
practicable, the President deems it expedient to suggest the 1st day of
January, 1881, as a suitable elate for the assembling or the conference in
the city of Washington. In the event, however, that the government of ______
______ should have occasion to prefer a different date for the meeting of
the conference, this government will be ready to reconsider the question
with a view to an alteration in the date.
Memorandum in relation to points proposed to be
submitted to an international sanitary conference.
Department of State,
Washington, July 29,
1880.
A joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States, approved May 14, 1880, authorized the President “to call
an international sanitary conference to meet at Washington, District of
Columbia, to which the several powers having jurisdiction of ports
likely to be infected with yellow fever or cholera shall be invited to
send delegates, properly authorized, for the purpose of securing an
international
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system of
notification as to the actual sanitary condition of ports and places
under the jurisdiction of such powers, and of vessels sailing
therefrom.”
This resolution has its origin in the practical difficulties which have
been encountered in the administration of the regulations and rules
recommended by sanitary experience and framed by the legislation of the
country to the end of preventing the introduction and spread of yellow
fever, cholera, and other contagious or infectious diseases in the
territory of the United States. The extensive prevalence of yellow fever
in certain parts of this country during the past two years, and the
almost continual existence of the danger of the introduction of such
contagious or infectious diseases as yellow fever and cholera, by
vessels coming to this country from infected ports abroad, gave rise to
such legislative measures, hut the difficulty in their application has
been chiefly owing to the fact that in certain foreign ports where
infectious or contagious diseases have existed, or were supposed to
exist, the local authorities have shown some hesitation as to
co-operating with the consular and medical officers of the United States
in carrying out regulations deemed essential by this government as a
sanitary safeguard.
Moreover, in consequence of the vague and untrustworthy evidence
obtainable in some cases as to the sanitary condition of suspected
foreign ports, vessels coming thence to the United States have, in some
instances, as it has afterwards appeared, been subjected to unnecessary
quarantine in the ports of this country. On the other hand, vessels from
non-infected ports of the United States have been compelled to submit to
like unnecessary and vexatious delays by the quarantine regulations of
other countries, based upon imperfect knowledge of the sanitary
condition of American ports.
The joint resolution of Congress, quoted above, contemplates only
securing “an international system of notification as to the actual
sanitary condition of ports and places,” and does not touch on the
broader and more intricate question of the preventive sanitary measures
imposed in the ports of each country, in conformity with its own laws
and in proportion to the danger of outward communication and internal
spread of epidemic disease at the port of introduction. The Government
of the United States, recognizing the essentially local character of
quarantine requirements, and their adaptability to the sanitary
conditions and risks in the districts where they are applied, would not
seek to propose any international code of general quarantine laws, even
did the system of State and Federal governments in the United States
favor bringing the sanitary precautions of the seaboard States from
Texas to Maine, with all their varying conditions, under one
governmental code.
But the President is of the opinion that the great inconveniences and
losses which the commerce of the world has been, and is now, suffering
from the delays and obstructions caused by unnecessary quarantines can,
to a great extent, be relieved by the establishment, as contemplated by
the Congressional joint resolution of May 14, 1880, of an international
system of notification as to the actual sanitary condition of ports and
places likely to be infected with communicable or epidemic diseases. And
following the authorization of the resolution referred to, he has,
therefore, deemed if proper to submit to the governments of the chief
maritime powers the expediency of holding a conference at an early day,
in this city, to consider the subject of a proper and applicable scheme
of such international notification.
The specific propositions which the President would desire to submit to
the proposed conference would include the following:
- A.
- The establishment of a reliable and satisfactory international
system of notification as to the existence of contagious and
infectious diseases, more especially cholera and yellow
fever.
- B.
- The establishment of a uniform and satisfactory system of
bills of health, the statements in which shall he trustworthy as
to the sanitary condition of the port of departure and as to the
condition of the vessel at the time of sailing.
The discussion of these points would involve, among others, the following
questions:
I.
Who should be the certifying officer or authority as to the sanitary
condition of ports and places, and of vessels?
II.
How can the certifying authority obtain trustworthy information as to the
actual sanitary condition of ports and places, and as to the presence of
contagious and infectious diseases?
III.
When yellow fever or cholera exists at or in the vicinity of a port or
place, what examination should be male of a vessel sailing therefrom to
secure a trustworthy knowledge of her sanitary condition?
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IV.
To what extent, and under what conditions, should a clean bill of health
be considered as affording satisfactory evidence that the vessel is free
from danger of conveying infectious disease?
V.
In what way can trustworthy information be obtained from ports or places
in countries which have imperfect or unsafe quarantine and sanitary
regulations, and which may be unwilling or unable to adhere to the
proposed international system.
VI.
Whether a schedule of graduated penalties could be fixed, to be exacted
from vessels for various offenses arising under the proposed
international system?
