The subject has lost none of its interest here; it is the wish of the
Department that no efforts may be omitted on the part of your legation to
induce the withdrawal of the apparently needless, and, in some aspects,
almost unfriendly policy pursued by France in relation to one of the
greatest and most necessary export staples of the United States.
[Inclosure 1 in No.
289.—Extract.]
Mr. Dufais to Mr.
Rives.
Consulate of the United States,
Havre France, December 22,
1887.
No. 133.]
Sir: In the kaleidoscope of French ministerial
changes appears the latest, and quite recently, as prime minister and
president of the council, Mr. Tirard, the same who, on February 18,
1881, as minister of agriculture and commerce, issued the famous edict
of prohibition of American salted pork being imported into France, on
the ground of its consumption being against public health.
How unfounded this pretense was, and what efforts have since been made by
chambers of commerce, deputations of workingmen, etc., to induce the
numerous intervening ministers of commerce, need not be repeated.
I am sure our people would not care what import duty France might levy on
hog produce, provided all nations be treated equally; but to admit
German, Belgium, [Page 501] English,
etc., salted pork, hams, etc., and to exclude ours, under the ridiculous
plea of its being unwholesome, is an unfriendly act towards a friendly
nation, and one of the best customers France has.
I beg to inclose translation of an article contained in the “Journal du
Havre,” of December 14, for what it is worth.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 289.—Extract from the
“Journal du Havre.”—Translation.]
mr. tirard and american salted meats.
Mr. Tirard, the new president of the council, was minister of agriculture
and commerce in 1881.
It was he who, in a report which we find in the Official Journal of the
19th February of 1881, asked the president of the Republic to sign a
decree prohibiting the importation into France of salted pork, bacon,
ham, etc., coming from the United States of America. The president of
the Republic in effect signed a decree bearing date of the 18th
February, 1881.
According to the judgment of Mr. Tirard, the consumption of this meat was
dangerous to the public health. In the report alluded to, Mr. Tirard
remarks that the importation of these meats through the port of Havre
alone, the most important in France, was from 29,000,000 to 30,000,000
kilogrammes (2.2 pounds each) or 2,500 tons a month. By a single stroke
of the pen this important branch of commerce, this element of prosperity
of Havre, was suppressed. It deprived the carrying trade of an amount of
freight not to be despised and which has not been replaced.
On November 27, 1883, Mr. Herisson, then minister of commerce, submitted
to the president of the Republic another decree, withdrawing the edict
of the 18th February, 1881, and Mr. Tirard, who had become minister of
finance, countersigned the decree as such.
No time however, was given to rejoice over this good measure; indeed,
inconsequence of a manifestation in the chamber of deputies, a third
decree was launched on December 28, putting off the execution of the
decree of the 27th of November preceding.
This was Havre’s new year’s gift. Ever since then we have lived under the
rule of prohibition. Not only one branch of industry suffered thereby,
not only our merchant marine suffered serious loss, but the entire trade
of France was struck at.
The United States of America, when they saw the French market closed to
this produce, used reprisals, raising in their turn obstacles against
the import of our articles and placing our products at a disadvantage in
the American markets.
The prohibition of American salted pork articles, produced immediately a
falling off in our exports of 125,000,000 francs (75,000,000 in 1884,
and 50,000,000 in 1885), the falling off continuing ever since.
The efforts and representations which have been made, the steps which
have been taken by representatives of Havre, deputies and members of the
chamber of commerce, to reverse this unlucky measure reducing our trade
movement by 40,000 tons and more than 50,000,000 in value, have not
succeeded.
Succeeding ministers have given (holy water) promises, but that was
all.
The return of Mr. Tirard to power as chief of the cabinet furnishes,
perhaps, an opportunity for renewed attempts. No doubt the chamber of
commerce will be disposed to new endeavors. Mr. de Qnerhoent will go
into harness again, and Messrs. Siegfried and Faure will give renewed
assistance. (Mr. Seigfried, formerly mayor of Havre, was to form part of
a Goblet ministry as minister of commerce, but the formation fell
through.) The same united action as formerly will be found again all
through France.
Mr. Tirard must have at heart to repair in 1887 the fault which he
committed in 1881, and which had such disastrous consequences.
Mr. Dautresine, again minister of commerce, will doubtless encourage him
in such efforts, whilst the message of the President of the Republic, in
advance of the ministerial programme, promises serious fiscal reforms
for the benefit of the whole community, bringing back revenues into the
coffers of the state, enriching private purses, famishing the middle
classes and workingmen with a substantial and cheap food, whose
harmlessness has been attested not less by facts than by searching and
intelligent analysis.
We complained, with perfect reason, of Great Britain prohibiting the
importation of French cattle into her territory under the pretext that
there had been a mouth disease in 1870. Do not let us give the English
the chance to say that they are not less ridiculous than we are in
prohibiting the importation of American hog produce for fear of
imaginary trichinosis.
