Mr. Reid to Mr. Blaine.
Paris, July 11, 1890. (Received July 22.)
Sir: On Wednesday last I called upon the minister of foreign affairs during the hours for diplomatic receptions to discuss the pork question. Mr. Ribot continued, as he has done on every recent occasion [Page 287] when the subject has been introduced, by saying that the agitation over the McKinley bill now makes any action on their part extremely difficult. I replied that in my belief they would find, after the two McKinley bills had been some time in operation, that their apprehensions had been unduly excited; but added:
You are not in a position, at any rate, to complain. You are the aggressors, not we. For 9 years you have persisted in an indefensible and absolute exclusion of one of our most important products. It is for you to take the first step now.
This he received with great courtesy and kindness, but made no definite reply, except to dwell again upon the alarm created by the tariff legislation.
I have, etc.,