Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1889

Mr. Reid to Mr. Blaine.

Legation of the United States,
Paris, October 19, 1889. (Received November 5.)

No. 79.]

Sir: General Franklin having made known to me your desire that, with a view of removing the unfounded allegations upon which American hog products are prohibited in France, the French Government be invited to inspect the meats of that class now shown in the Universal Exhibition, it was agreed that we should call together on Mr. Spuller. We did so on the 15th instant, and I explained the object of our visit substantially as stated in the note verbale herewith, which was written at the request of the minister and sent to him the next day.

Mr. Spuller received our request favorably. He said it was a proper one to make and that he would confer about it with the minister of commerce, who had charge of matters of this kind. As far as he was concerned, he had no objection to re-opening the question of admitting salted meat in France, and he would like to settle it to our satisfaction. There were, however, difficulties in the way. Originally the meat was -excluded purely on sanitary grounds; but since, the idea of protection to French producers of salt pork may have had its weight in maintaining the prohibition. He personally did not sympathize with the protectionist views, being a free-trader, and he would favor any measure tending to unrestricted commercial intercourse. But he was sorry to say the tendency of the new chamber seemed to be strongly in the opposite direction. I reminded him that there was a difference between protection and prohibition. I spoke also of the invidious discrimination in admitting the same class of products from other countries while prohibiting ours and of the impolicy of prohibiting cheap food. We parted after the renewed assurances of his good will.

His record on this question being in favor of the free admission of American pork product, I have no doubt he will again favor the measure. I do not expect, however, that he will meet the question as directly as it is put in the note verbale herewith.

I have, etc.,

Whitelaw Reid.

[Inclosure in No. 79.]

Mr. Reid to Mr. Spuller.

Legation of the United States,
Paris, October 16, 1889.

Mr. Reid presents his compliments to Mr. Spuller and in compliance with his request states here the object of the call made on him yesterday with General Franklin.

The United States Government, regretting that American pork products are still prohibited in France, while similar products from other countries are admitted, has instructed its minister at Paris, and its commissioner-general at the Universal Exposition, to co-operate in efforts for the removal of this unjust discrimination.

The only ground heretofore assigned for it was the alleged unhealthfulness of the meat. The United States Government respectfully asks if that charge is still maintained by the French Republic. If so, the United States commissioner-general is instructed to ask, through the United States minister, for an official inspection of the American pork products which have been admitted to the exposition, and have been distinguished by its highest prize. This exhibit is large and embraces every variety of pork. The whole of it is placed at the disposal of the French Government for such inspection. The American producers are so confident that this can only result in establishing the perfect healthfulness of the meat that they invite the most careful and scrutinizing investigation.

If, on the contrary, the exclusion of American pork is not maintained for sanitary reasons the United States minister respectfully submits that his Government, as a friendly one, is entitled to know why an important American product is alone singled out among all similar products from other nations to be made the subject of such unequal treatment.