No. 652.
Mr. Fairchild to Mr. Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Madrid, July 16, 1881.
(Received August 4.)
No. 176.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the reception
of your instruction No. 144, transmitting copies of the report recently made
by an officer of the Department of State relative to the late rumors as to
the alleged unhealthfulness of American pork.
In accordance with the instructions therein contained I have addressed a note
upon the subject to the minister of state, and at the same time transmitted
several copies of the report in question. A copy of my note is herewith
inclosed.
As your instruction was very naturally based upon the supposition that the
admission of American pork into Spain was still prohibited, it is necessary
that I should make the following explanation:
When the question of the prohibition of American pork in France was occupying
the attention of the Department and the legation at Paris, General Noyes
wrote to me asking to be informed as to what measures, if any, had been
taken by the Spanish Government in regard to the entry of that article of
our produce into Spain. I at once examined the question and found that the
royal order of the 28th February, 1880, prohibiting the admission of
American pork into Spain had been annulled by royal order dated the 10th
July, of the same year, and that that article would thereafter be admitted
on complying with certain conditions prescribed therein. A copy of this
order was sent to General Noyes.
I regret exceedingly that the royal order of 10th July, above referred to,
entirely escaped my notice at the time of its issuance and publication, thus
preventing my sending, as I certainly should have done, a copy to the
Department. I now send a copy and translation of it that you may the better
see upon what conditions American pork is now
[Page 1060]
permitted to enter Spain. Those conditions, I have no
doubt, will appear to you as they do to me just and proper, and to which no
reasonable objection can be made by the dealers in and shippers of that
important article of our produce, as it has always been their wish that the
article should be subjected to the most severe inspection, knowing full well
that it would more than stand the test and comparison with that of any other
country.
I shall avail myself of every opportunity to give publicity to the report by
distributing it among those interested.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 176.]
Mr. Fairchild to
Minister of State.
Excellency: In view of the disastrous effects
produced throughout Europe by the reports of the alleged unhealthfulness
of American pork, shipped to foreign countries, an officer of the
Department of State at Washington was recently detailed to make a most
searching and impartial investigation concerning the truth or untruth of
such reports.
The officer in question, after having visited the cities of Chicago and
Cincinnati, the two great pork centres, and where are situated and in
daily operation the largest pork-slaughtering establishments in the
United States, has lately submitted the result of his impartial
investigations to the Secretary of State in a report, copies of which I
beg to hand your excellency herewith.
The report not only clearly and fully proves that there was not the
slightest foundation for the alarming reports set afloat, but also as
clearly shows how impossible it is, owing to the severe inspection to
which the pork is subjected, whether alive or dead, for unhealthful pork
to reach either the home or the foreign markets. For your excellency’s
further information, and for greater convenience, I beg to refer to the
conclusions arrived at on page 14 of the report above mentioned.
I do not know how I can better illustrate to your excellency the entire
good faith with which my government ordered the inspection to be made,
than by quoting the following paragraph from the instructions sent to me
by the Secretary of State, in transmitting the report above referred
to:
“This investigation was forced upon the government by the disastrous
effects produced abroad by those rumors, and by the action of several
European governments in stringently restricting or prohibiting the
importation of swine products from this country. It was undertaken in
the most impartial spirit and with full recognition of the weighty
responsibility which would rest upon this government should the
prevalent rumors be substantiated. Had it been found that this great
American industry was the means of disseminating disease and death
abroad, no admission could have been too frank or prompt, and no
repressive measures too urgent to vindicate our national good faith.
“As it is, the result goes beyond our most sanguine expectations in
proving the baselessness of the statements which have unhappily wrought
such injury upon one of our most widely spread and valuable branches of
foreign commerce.”
I may add that the information contained in the report herewith inclosed
is only sent to your excellency to bear out the wise and just decision
arrived at in the royal order of the 10th July, 1880, rescinding that of
February 28, of the same year, and permitting the entry into Spain of
pork and lard, proceeding from the United States, on certain conditions
prescribed therein. This laudable action of His Catholic Majesty’s
Government cannot be too highly commended.
I may also refer your excellency to the action of the Government of His
Majesty the King of Belgium (on pages 15 and 16 of the report in
question), which, disregarding the popular clamor and prejudice, and
examining the question fairly upon its merits, reached some time since
the conclusion, to which the Government of the United States is also
irresistibly led, that of the widely-spread food staple of the world’s
commerce, none is grown, packed, and exported under conditions more
calculated to assure safety and wholesomeness than the pork product of
America.
I have inclosed to your excellency several copies of the report referred
to, not doubting that your excellency will, in the interest of the
dealers in and consumers of American pork in Spain, desire to give
publicity to the facts therein contained.
I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your excellency the assurance
of my most distinguished consideration.
[Page 1061]
[Inclosure 2 in No.
176.—Translation.]
Minister of the Interior
to Minister of Hacienda.
Excellency: An account having been given to His
Majesty of the applications made by various merchants and industrials of
Valladolid, Cartagena, Santander, and of Madrid, soliciting the
derogation of the royal order of February 28, ultimo, which prohibited
the introduction into Spain of pork and pork grease, proceeding from the
United States of America and Germany, and the grounds upon which their
petitions were based having been attentively examined; and whereas the
observance of said royal decree has brought about a remarkable rise in
the price of the alimentary substance above referred to; and whereas in
the fusion (melting) of the greases no trichina is found to exist, and
as it is easily recognized with the microscope in the lean parts of
pork, as in other meats; and as the same examination when made of the
greases obtained by pressure does not give the assurance that they are
free from the said parasite; and
Considering that the rise experienced in the prices of pork and pork
grease shows the insufficiency of the national production to meet public
consumption, and deprives the poorer class of a most necessary food; and
considering how difficult it is to avoid fraud, on account of the
impossibility of proving the country of production when they come from
non-prohibited places; and considering that a guarantee must be given to
public health, without injuring the interests of commerce, His Majesty
the King, having heard the opinion of the royal board of health, has
deigned to decree as follows:
- 1.
- The royal order of 28th February, ultimo, which prohibits the
introduction of pork and pork grease proceeding from the United
States of America and Germany, is annulled.
- 2.
- Only the prohibition regarding the greases coming from the
United States which have not been obtained through melting will
continue in force.
- 3.
- All meats which may be introduced shall be subjected to a
scrupulous and microscopic inspection, and all that which
contains trichina, or is injurious to health, shall be
destroyed.
- 4.
- The inspection shall be made by a farrier of superior category
appointed by the gobernador of the province, and paid by the
importers in accordance with the following tariff.
- 5.
- The introduction of said meats and greases shall only be
effected through the first-class customs.
- 6.
- The foregoing provisions will be applied to meats and greases
already imported and pending clearance at the
custom-houses.
By royal order I communicate this to your excellency for your
information, and in order that the necessary orders to the above effect
may be given by the ministry under your worthy charge.
God guard your excellency many years.
FRANCISCO ROMERO ROBLEDO.
Madrid, July 10,
1880.
Tariff for the payment of fees for the inspection of pork which may
be imported from the United States of America and Germany: For each
case containing from 80 to 100 hams, 2 pesetas; for each case
containing from 250 to 300 shoulders, feet, legs, or tongues, 2
pesetas 50 centimes; for each case of bacon (containing muscular
fiber) of from 20 to 30 pieces, 1 peseta 50 centimes.
Approved by me.
ROMERO.
Madrid, July 10,
1880.
