No. 316.
Mr. Schuyler to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Athens
,
February 10, 1883.
(Received March 5.)
No. 8.]
Sir: I received a few days ago a circular of the
minister of the interior, dated January 23, 1883, addressed to the
provincial authorities of the Kingdom and to the bureau of health of
Piraeus, with reference to the importation of cattle from various eastern
countries. The second paragraph, however, of the circular renewed the
prohibition against the importation of hams, sausages, and lard coming from
America, either directly or indirectly. I inclose a copy and translation of
this circular.
On his first reception day I inquired of Mr. Tricoupis whether the Government
had any additional reasons for prohibiting the importation of hams, &c.,
from the United States, adding that I thought that the results of the
investigations undertaken by the order of our Government had sufficiently
proved that there was no danger to be expected from such importations. Mr.
Tricoupis said that he was ignorant of the causes which had led to the
insertion of the paragraph referred to, as in his capacity of minister of
the interior he had simply published a circular prepared by the sanitary
authorities of his department; that if he had noticed the passage he would
have inquired, because he remembered that Mr. Botassi, the Greek
consul-general at New York, had made a report in which he stated that the
reports about disease of swine, &c., in America had been greatly
exaggerated. He promised me, therefore, to make further inquiries, and,
without binding himself, gave me to understand that if the result of his
inquiries proved satisfactory the prohibition would be withdrawn.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure in No.
8.—Translation.]
circular prohibiting importation of american
pork.
Athens
,
January 11,
1883.
The ministry of the interior to the
nomarchs and eparchs of the Kingdom and to the bureau of health of
Pirœus:
According to the orders which you have already received, cows and
buffaloes coming from Russia, Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, Thrace, Valona,
and Rahova in Roumania, on account of the epizoöty raging in those
countries, are only allowed to be imported by way of Syra, Corfu, and
Piraeus, and after a previous quarantine. With regard to raw cow and
buffalo hides of the same origin, their importation is only permitted by
Syra and Corfu, and with all the prescribed sanitary precautions, while
the importation of other products of these animals, such as bones,
intestines, &c., is absolutely forbidden.
[Page 537]
By the present circular we renew to yon these orders, and also those
concerning the prohibition to import into Greece hams, sausages, lard,
&c., coming directly or indirectly from America, and we order you to
see that these orders are strictly executed by the sanitary authorities
of your jurisdiction.
On the recommendation of the medical counsel, and in view of the epizoōty
existing in Thrace and at Valona, we also forbid the importation of cows
and buffaloes coming from any part of Turkey in Europe, by any other way
than Syra, Corfu, and PiraBus, and until after a previous quarantine of
nine days, including the days of the passage. We also forbid the
importation into Greece of raw cow-hides of the same origin, except by
way of Syra or Corfu, and after the observance of the sanitary measures
per-gcribed by the regulations. The importation of dried and salted
cow-hides is not prohibited.
You will communicate the contents of this circular to the sanitary
authorities of your jurisdiction.
The minister:
