No. 149.
Mr. Morton
to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
[Extract.]
Legation of
the United States,
Paris, November 29, 1883.
(Received December.13.)
No. 452.]
Sir: As I had the honor of informing you by my
telegram of yesterday the official journal of this morning publishes a
decree repealing that of February 18, 1881, by which the importation of
American pork was prohibited in France.
[Page 293]
The French packers were so much interested and so persistent in obstructing
this long-expected measure that I feared the withdrawal of the prohibition
might be coupled with some kind of inspection which would practically
restrict its effect, but the decree removes the prohibition without any
conditions. A circular of the minister of commerce, addressed to the
prefects, informs them of the decision taken, and simply advises them to see
that the pork offered to the public is fully cured, and to recommend to
those making use of such meats that they should be well cooked, as it is
scientifically and experimentally established, says the minister, that
thorough cooking and salting destroys trichinosis when it exists.
Thus the position taken in this matter by the legation and maintained in
repeated communications, written and verbal, is at last officially admitted
as correct by the French Government.
In view of the information conveyed in your dispatch No. 379, of November 13,
I informed Mr. Schuyler of the withdrawal of the decree. * * *
I deem it proper to avail myself of this occasion to express my high
appreciation of the valuable assistance rendered and cordial co-operation of
Mr. Vignaud in the long pending negotiations, as in all other matters, now
so satisfactorily terminated by the withdrawal pure and simple of the
prohibitory decree at a time when the current of public sentiment elsewhere
in Europe appears to be running in a different direction.
I inclose herewith copy and translation of both the decree and the
circular.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
452.—Translation.]
decree of november 27, 1883.
The President of the French Republic, upon the report of the minister of
commerce, considering the conformable opinion of the consultative
committee of public health of France, dated the 26th November, 1883,
decrees:
- Article 1. Is, and shall remain,
annulled, the decree dated the 18th of February, 1881, which
prohibits on the territory of the French Republic the
importation of salted pork of American origin.
- Art. 2. The minister of commerce and
the minister of finance are instructed, each so far as it may
concern him, to execute the present decree, which shall be
inserted in the Journal Officiel, and
published in the Bulletin des
Lois.
Done at Paris
the 27th November,
1883.
JULES GRÉVY.
By the President of the Republic:
The minister of
commerce,
CH. HERISSON.
The minister of finance,
P.
TIRARD.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
452.—Translation.]
circular from the minister of
commerce.
Paris, November 27,
1883.
Monsieur le Préfet: A decree of the President
of the Republic of the 27th of November has just annulled the decree of
the 18th February, 1881, which prohibits on the entire territory of the
French Republic the importation of salted pork coming from the United
States.
This decree, which has for object to restore to consumption a much
esteemed article of food among the working classes, will not
efficaciously attain the end in view unless
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all requisite precautions for the preservation of
public health are taken in the use of this meat.
The consultative committee of public hygiene of France, to whom I
referred the question, undertook a minute examination of the subject,
from which it results that preserved pork loses all serious danger of
infestation of trichinosis if it is salted with care, and if the brine
in which it is deposited is of good preparation. You should therefore
recommend to the municipal authorities, who have more especially in
their attributions, the supervision of articles of food, to examine with
the greatest care whether these conditions are entirely carried out as
far as concerns salted pork put up for sale in their commune, and not to
hesitate to seize and destroy that which, from an imperfect degree of
saltness, may appear to them unfit for consumption.
The committee has ascertained besides, both scientifically and by
experimental means, that trichinosis, when it exists in pork, is
entirely destroyed by complete cooking, and that all danger will
disappear for the consumer if, conformably to our well-known culinary
habits, this meat is not eaten raw or rarely cooked.
You will please therefore bring this important particular to the
knowledge of those under your jurisdiction by all the means of publicity
at your disposal.
I beg you will acknowledge receipt of the present circular, and give your
careful attention to the execution of the directions contained
therein.
Receive, &c.,
The minister of commerce,
