No. 233.
Mr. Blaine
to Mr. Noyes.
Department
of State,
Washington, May 26,
1881.
No. 371.]
Sir: On the 23d instant, I sent you the following
telegram, viz:
Notes, Minister, Paris:
A telegram from Bordeaux to Chicago, 18th instant, says that the
deputies from Bordeaux and Havre had an interview with minister of
commerce touching American pork exports, and that minister asserted
that American papers are full of revelations of extent and intensity
of trichina in America. If made, as asserted, statement is based on
erroneous impression in minister’s mind formed by isolated items
maliciously published for speculative purposes. Most rigid
examination adds daily to strength of position of this government in
claiming that the hog exports of this country are singularly free
from trichina or any communicable disorder. Make dignified protests
against minister’s statements as prejudiced and inimical rumors, to
which the mass of the American press lends no credence.
BLAINE, Secretary.
[Page 409]
I inclose herewith, for your further information, a copy of a letter from
Messrs. Armour & Co., of Chicago, communicating to the Department the
information upon which the above telegram is founded.
I am, sir, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 371.]
Messrs. Armour & Co.
to Mr. Blaine.
Chicago, May 18, 1881.
(Received May 21.)
Sir: We beg to call your attention to the
inclosed cable dispatch received by us to-day from Messrs. Seignouret
Frères of Bordeaux, by which you will see that the efforts being made,
by those interested in the importation of American meats into France are
being seriously hampered and offset by the circulation of false reports
in that country respecting the situation of affairs here.
We have for some time, through our agents in Havre, Marseilles, and
Bordeaux, been engaged in some effective work, we think, in bringing
about the repeal, or at least the modification, of the prohibitory
decree of £he 18th February last; and as the prompt action taken by
yourself in denial of the erroneous statements current about that time
were of the utmost value in modifying the original decree, whereby all
meats shipped from this country before issuance of the decree were
permitted entrance, we now take the liberty to suggest that an official
denial be made of the existence of any newspaper articles of the kind
mentioned in the inclosed cable dispatch.
Friends of the American meat trade all over France are, we know, meeting
with every possible obstacle in their efforts to effect the repeal of
this decree, and any official assistance you may see fit to render them
by the denial of false rumors will, of course, be of the very greatest
value.
Messrs. Seignouret Frères, from whom the inclosed cable dispatch was
received by us, are by far the largest dealers in and importers of
American meats in France, and have been ever since this prohibitory
order was issued unremitting in their exertions toward its repeal.
Confident of your sympathy with the general effort being made to relieve
the commercial public, equally with the agricultural interests of this
country now suffering from the effects of this prohibitory decree of the
French Government, and soliciting your valuable co-operation at this
time,
We have, &c,
ARMOUR & CO.,
[Appendix to letter of Messrs. Armour &
Co.—Telegram.]
Armour, Chicago:
Bordeaux-Havre deputies had, yesterday, interview with minister commerce,
who asserted that American papers are full of revelation on extent and
intensity of trichina in America. We advise strong protest from the
press, and true reports sent by officials.
