Office of the Historian

Mr. Blaine to Mr. Held.

Department of State,
Washington, June 11, 1889.
No. 16.]

Sir: I inclose herewith for your information a copy of resolutions recently adopted by the board of directors of the board of trade of the city of Chicago relative to the prohibition by Germany and France of the importation of American hog products.

It is difficult to add to the earnestness with which, during many years, this Government has remonstrated against this unjust and onerous prohibition of trade in one of the greatest staple products of our country and one which the continuous experience of long and careful observation has demonstrated to be second in healthfulness to no food product of domestic or export consumption, and it is with deep regret and pain that this Government has seen the failure of the hopes it has built on the good disposition of France in this regard and upon the efforts of the French cabinets from time to time to effect a friendly and equitable solution of the difficulty which the legislative features of the question in the chambers have thrown in the way of its adjustment.

The present memorial, coming as it does from the great pork producing and packing center of the United States, and representing important and widely diffused interests, as well agricultural as commercial, is worthy of careful consideration, insistence upon what is firmly believed to be an unnecessary and unjust discrimination against our country can not but injuriously affect opinion here among the vast mass of producers and others whose interests are materially damaged. In no country of the world is the official machinery for the inspection of live-stock and for the stamping-out the first symptoms of disease more elaborate and efficient, and nowhere are more varied and effective interests concerned in securing the absolute healthfulness of the food products which form so large a part of the subsistence of our countrymen. Careful observation, continued over many years, has failed to disclose an authentic case of disease from eating American cured and packed pork products in foreign countries where their use is freely permitted; and it would be a result much to be deprecated if the widespread injury inflicted upon the farmers and merchants of a large area of our country should tend to weaken the strong and cordial sentiments of our population towards France and her people and beget resentment against what can not fail, if longer persisted in, to be regarded as a blind and unreasoning discrimination.

The correspondence on file in your legation will apprise you of the magnitude of this question, and you will lose no opportunity to impress the Government of France with the earnest desire and confident expectation of this Government that considerations of friendliness and justice may prevail in the treatment of this question by the statesmen and legislators of France.

At the same time it is proper to caution you against proffering suggestions of retaliation on our part. Acts founded upon resentment work grievous injury to international relations, and while the interests [Page 165] affected in this country are doubtless exerting a potent influence among the representatives of the people, it may not be expedient to openly advert to the probability of Congressional action.

You are instructed to avail yourself of an early opportunity to recall the attention of the French foreign office to this subject, and to discreetly but earnestly press our remonstrances upon the Government of France against the unjust discrimination complained of.

I am, etc.,

James G. Blaine.
[Inclosure in No. 16.]

Mr. Stone to Mr. Blaine.

Board of Trade of the City of Chicago,
Secretary’s Office,
Chicago, June 4, 1889.

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of preamble and resolutions adopted by the board of directors of this beard, with reference to the prohibition, by Germany and France, of the importation of American hog meats.

Very respectfully, yours,

Geo. F. Stone.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 16.]

Resolutions adopted by the board of trade of the city of Chicago.

Chicago, May 28, 1889.

The following preamble and resolutions were adopted by the board of directors of the board of trade of the city of Chicago at a meeting held this day.

Respectfully,

G. F. Stone,
Secretary.

Whereas the hog crop of this country is a source of great national revenue; and,

Whereas France and Germany prohibit the importation of American salted pork; and,

Whereas such prohibition is based upon the unfounded allegation that American hog meats are unhealthful, which insults and circumscribes a great and beneficent industry; and,

Whereas the hog product of England is not thus interdicted, and thereby a particular and offensive discrimination is made against the American hog product, to the great injury of our commerce; and

Whereas under this legislation our exportation of hog product has diminished in value from $104,000,000 in 1881 to $59,000,000 in 1888; and,

Whereas the American hog product is generally used in America by citizens of all nationalities, and in all foreign countries except France and Germany, without detriment to the health of the consumers, and therefore the existing decrees of prohibition can not truthfully rest on the basis of the unhealthfulness of the product;

Resolved, That the board of trade of the city of Chicago hereby respectfully represents to the United States Government the necessity of immediate and decided measures to the end that the disabilities herein recited be removed and the business in American hog meats no longer suffer under the stigma of false and injurious accusations, but be restored to its rightful place in the commerce of the world.

Resolved, That a copy-of the above be sent to the honorable the Secretary of State and to the principal commercial organizations of the country.