No. 310.
Mr. Lowell
to Mr. Blaine.
London, March 9, 1881. (Received March 25.)
Sir: Something like a panic has lately been produced in the pork trade between the United States and this country, by means of reports [Page 511] sedulously put in circulation, as I have little doubt, by speculators aiming at a great and sudden fall in prices. The importance of the trade may be judged by the fact that 350,000 tons, of pork or products of the pig in various forms were imported into England from America last year, if I am correctly informed.
For some time the newspapers have been full of reports of the abundant presence of trichinosis in American swine, and of the consequent danger from eating their flesh in any of its forms. These were followed by stories of a great mortality by cholera of hogs in the Western States. Before long, deaths were reported at Nottingham and Dublin in consequence of eating American ham, and were attributed to trichinosis. Inquiry showed that there was not a particle of proof, either that those persons had eaten of such ham, or had died of the alleged disease. The alarm produced by so much persistent fabrication and assertion led to a question being asked in Parliament (on the 1st March), and very satisfactorily answered on behalf of the privy council by Mr. Mundella, who treated the reports as unfounded, and the cases of death as in no sense traceable to American pork.
Mr. Mundella is fully aware of the great importance of the trade in cheapening food to the poorer classes in England, and entirely disposed to prevent any unnecessary restrictions upon it.
* * * * * * *
I have kept Mr. Mundella supplied with whatever information I had on the subject, and this morning communicated officially to the Times a copy of your last telegram.
I have, &c.,