No. 237.
Mr. Noyes
to Mr. Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Paris, June 23, 1881.
(Received July 6.)
No. 483.]Sir: I have the honor to inform you that your
dispatch No. 379, of date June 8, 1881, reached this legation yesterday, the
22d instant, and that I immediately prepared a note to the minister of
foreign affairs, of which a copy is herewith inclosed. This note, together
with two copies of the report on American pork, sent by you, I forwarded to
Mr. B. St. Hilaire, by Mr. Vignaud, secretary of legation, who was
instructed to request for me an interview with the minister. Accordingly I
called by appointment at the foreign office at one o’clock to-day, and had a
full and frank conversation with Mr. St. Hilaire.
I represented to him that my government was getting impartient at the long
delay in revoking the prohibitory decree 5 that the interests involved were
so great, and the injury inflicted by the action of the French Government
upon the commerce of the United States was so disastrous and widespread,
that the public sentiment of my country demanded such action on the part of
the government at Washington as would effectually protect the interests of
the American people. I more than intimated that unless this pork decree was
revoked, my government, however reluctanly, might be compelled to resort to
retaliatory measures. I said that I only reflected the sentiment of my
government when I assured him I should deeply regret such necessity. I
impressed upon Mr. St. Hilaire the desirability of an early response to the
demand contained in your dispatch, which was read to him in French, and
copies of which, in both French and English, I left with him at his request.
Much more was said which it is not necessary here to repeat.
The minister seemed to be profoundly impressed with the gravity of the
subject, and said that he fully appreciated the importance and significance
of your dispatch. He assured me that copies of the papers and documents
presented to him would be sent to the minister of agriculture and commerce
this afternoon, and that he would confer with him in person not later than
to-morrow, with a view of finding some satisfactory solution of this
troublesome question, which he earnestly hoped to reach 5 that serious
consideration would be given to the demand of my government, and that I
should be informed of the decision reached at the earliest moment
possible.
Mr. St. Hilaire asked me if I would like to confer personally with Mr.
Tirard, minister of agriculture and commerce, as to the attitude of my
government. I answered that I did not care to do so; that the question
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had now reached that stage where I
preferred to communicate with the minister of foreign affairs only.
The report forwarded by you is being translated, and unless the necessity for
such a step shall be removed, I propose to have the report, or the more
material points of it, printed in French, and distributed where it may seem
most desirable to correct an erroneous public sentiment.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 483.]
Mr. Noyes to Mr.
St. Hilaire.
Legation of the United States,
Paris, June 22,
1881.
Sir: I have the honor to inform your excellency
that I have this day received an important dispatch from the Hon. James
G. Blaine, Secretary of State, at Washington, regarding the matter of
the decree of your excellency’s government prohibiting the importation
into France of American pork.
I am instructed to say that immediately after the publication of the
decree in question the Government of the United States took earnest and
efficient steps to ascertain faithfully and impartially the truth
regarding the condition and character of American pork as an article of
food, with a view to adopting such measures as might be deemed necessary
to insure life and health, in case the facts were found to be as set
forth in the report upon which the prohibitory decree of your
excellency’s government professed to be based. It was apparent from the
outset that your excellency’s government had been misinformed, and that
in consequence its action had been mistaken and wrongful to the
government and people of the United States. Recently, however, a more
searching and careful investigation has been made by a most competent
officer detailed for this purpose by the State Department, the result of
which is set forth in the pamphlet, two copies of which I have the honor
to inclose herewith to your excellency.
From what appears in this document, and otherwise, my government is
satisfied of the entire justice of the ground it has heretofore taken,
in denying the truth of the malicious rumors to which authoritative
currency has been given in foreign countries. It considers it absolutely
certain that there is no disease or infection pertaining to American
pork, rendering it dangerous or injurious to life or public health. On
the contrary, my government feels perfectly assured that the pork
product of the United States is an innocent and healthful article of
diet, in almost universal use, and nowhere with disastrous effects.
The honorable Secretary of State directs me to express the hope and
belief of my government that your excellency’s government will consider
the subject with the same desire to know the truth, and to act upon the
same when ascertained, that has animated the Government of the United
States.
The prohibitory action of the French Government has been adopted in other
countries, and it is probable that the limit of disastrous effects has
not been reached. The action of your excellency’s government is
calculated to and does discredit one of the most important of American
industries. The revocation of the decree of the French Government would
undoubtedly be followed elsewhere as its unfavorable action has been. A
serious blow has been inflicted upon American trade and commerce, and,
as my government believes, without good and sufficient cause, and it is
earnestly hoped that, considering the two great republics of the world,
France and America, have so long entertained cordial and intimate
relations, your excellency’s government will consider the subject in
question in a spirit of friendliness and accommodation.
It is the plain duty of all governments to guard and protect the
interests of their people, while recognizing their obligations to
neighboring and friendly nations. My government is not unmindful of this
duty, and in the interest of the American people it protests against a
decree which it cannot but regard as arbitrary and unjust, although
adopted upon information believed at the time to be reliable, but which
subsequent information has failed to accredit.
Four months have now passed since this decree was promulgated. The loss
already occasioned to American trade is irreparable, but the future is
important. I therefore beg your excellency to inform me at the earliest
practicable day as to what is the
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final determination of your excellency’s
government in order that the government and people of the United States
may be left no longer in doubt.
The report herewith inclosed will be translated into French at the
earliest moment possible, and copies will then be forwarded to your
excellency.
I avail myself of this occasion, &c.,
