Mr. Terrell to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Brussels, September 10, 1891.
(Received September 22.)
No. 225.]
Sir: Referring to your despatch. No. 134, of May 11
last, I have the honor to state that, in accordance with the instructions
therein contained, I addresed a communication on the 23d of May to his
excellency the Prince de Chimay, minister of foreign affairs, calling his
attention to the requirement enforced in Belgium that carcasses of dressed
beef imported into Belgium shall be accompanied by the lungs of the animals
thereto attached, respectively, and especially directing the prince’s
consideration to the prohibitory character of this regulation.
I beg to inclose herewith a copy of my communication.
On the 5th of August I received a reply from the Prince de Chimay, informing
me that it was not within the power of the King’s Government to modify the
regulation in question, it being enforced in accordance with the law of June
18, 1887.
As indicating, however, a desire on the part of the Government to concede
something to the United States, the prince further informed me that the
duration of the quarantine on American live stock, a reduction of which from
forty-five days to five days I had obtained last fall, had been further
reduced to three days. I inclose a copy of the Prince de Chimay’s
communication, together with a translation.
On the 7th of August I again addressed the prince on the subject, expressing
my regret that the King’s Government, in view of our efficient inspection of
all dressed beef exported from the United States, had not decided to
recommend to the legislature an amendment to the law, permitting an
exception to be made in favor of the products of any country whose sanitary
inspection laws as to dressed beef intended for exportation should be found
satisfactory to the minister of agriculture, industry, and public works.
I also begged his excellency to send me a copy of the law of June 18, 1887,
referred to in his communication. I have the honor to inclose herewith a
copy of my said note.
August 12 I received a note from the prince, inclosing a copy of the decree
reducing the quarantine on live stock imported by sea from five to three
days. I beg to inclose herewith a copy of the decree, with a translation
into English.
September 2 I received a further communication from the prince, a copy of
which I inclose herewith accompanied by a translation. In sending me the
copy of the law which I had requested, the prince informs me of an opinion
which the minister of agriculture, industry, and public works has given to
the minister of finance, to the effect that it is necessary to regard as
prepared meats pork meats imported from America after subjection to brine
and borax treatment; and that therefore they are not to be assimilated to
the fresh meats whose importation is subject to the provisions of the law of
June 18, 1887.
I beg to inclose a copy of the law of June 18, 1887, together with a
translation.
I have, etc.,
[Page 35]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 225.]
Mr. Terrell to the
Prince de Chimay.
Legation of the United States,
Brussels, May 23,
1891.
Prince: Under special instructions which I have
just received from my Government, I am requested to call the attention
of your excellency’s Government to a restrictive measure now being
enforced in Belgium in connection with the importation of carcasses of
dressed beef into the latter country, which not only operates seriously
upon commerce in this article as to its importation from the United
States into Belgium, but is virtually prohibitory of all importation of
dressed beef from the ports of the United States to this country.
I refer to that provision enforced by the Government of Belgium requiring
that carcasses of dressed beef imported shall be accompanied by the
lungs of the animals attached to the said carcasses, respectively. It is
presumed by my Government that the object had in view by Belgium in
establishing this regulation was simply to provide a sanitary measure
which would enable its officers to determine whether the animals whose
carcasses were to be imported had been affected with any disease of the
lungs.
As I have had the honor to inform your excellency in previous
correspondence, the Congress of the United States, by the act of March
3, 1891, has provided for the most rigid inspection of all animals
slaughtered with a view to foreign exportation.
By virtue of this act, ante-mortem and post-mortem examinations of the
most thorough character are required, and the carcasses of the animals
which are to be shipped to foreign countries are required to be
accompanied by health certificates issued by the United States
inspectors, and are to be properly labeled for purposes of
identification.
These measures of sanitary precaution are now being carried out in the
most efficient manner possible by the Department of Agriculture of the
United States under the regulation prescribed March 25, 1891, a copy of
which I have already had the honor to transmit to your excellency.
It is the opinion of the United States Government that the efficient
means it is thus taking to secure the exportation from its ports of
dressed beef carcasses of undoubted healthfulness only warrant its
asking from the courtesy of your excellency’s Government the removal, so
far at least as the United States is concerned, of these restrictive
measures, which are practically prohibitory of importations of this
particular article of commerce.
Hoping that it may be possible for the Belgian Government to do away with
this regulation where applied to importations from a country enforcing
rigid inspection laws assuring the healthfulness of beef carcasses
shipped from its ports, I profit by this occasion to renew, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
225.—Translation.]
The Prince de
Chimay to Mr. Terrell.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Brussels, August 5,
1891.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to acknowledge
the reception of the communication bearing date May 23 last, by which
your excellency has wished to express to me, in the name of your
Government, the desire to see mourned the measure now applied in Belgium
concerning the importation of fresh beet.
While highly appreciating the sanitary regulations which have been
promulgated by the Government at Washington with a view of assuring the
shipment from the United States of perfectly sound meat, the Government
of the King is obliged to declare that it is not in its power to give
favorable action to the request which has been addressed to it by your
excellency.
As a matter of fact, Mr. Minister, the provisions which oblige the
importers of beef meats to bring them in the condition of entire
carcasses, half carcasses, or fore quarters, and with lungs adhering,
have been decreed by the laws of June 18, 1887.
I will add, Mr. Minister that, desirous of giving to the Government of
the United States a new proof of his good will, the minister of
agriculture, industry, and public works has just reduced from five to
three days the duration of the quarantine imposed on American cattle
imported into Belgium.
I seize this occasion, etc.,
[Page 36]
[Inclosure 3 in No. 225.]
Mr. Terrell to the
Prince de Chimay.
Legation of the United States,
Brussels, August 7,
1891.
Prince: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your excellency’s esteemed communication of the 5th instant,
on the subject of the sanitary regulations enforced in Belgium as to
dressed beef carcasses imported from the United States. I deeply regret”
being under the necessity of reporting to my Government the conclusion
reached by your excellency’s Government on this subject. The regulations
now enforced requiring that the carcasses of dressed beef imported from
the United States into Belgium shall be accompanied by the lungs of the
animals respectively, are practically prohibitory of all importation of
this important article of American commerce.
I greatly regret that your excellency’s Government has not seen fit to
recommend to the legislature a simple amendment of the law, providing
that it should not be applicable to the products of those countries
whose sanitary regulations on the subject of the exportation of dressed
beef should be found satisfactory to the ministry of agriculture,
industry, and public works.
Just at the time when other European powers are showing every disposition
to modify restrictive measures heretofore enforced against American beef
and pork products, it seems to me as greatly to be regretted that
Belgium should take so inflexible a position; especially in view of the
vigorous and effective efforts now being made by the United States
Government to insure beyond all question the wholesome character of
these products exported from its ports.
I should be deeply indebted if your excellency would kindly furnish me
with a copy of the law of June 18, 1887, referred to in the
communication which I have had the honor to receive, for the purpose of
transmitting the same to my Government.
I desire, on the part of my Government, to express the pleasure with
which I have learned, by your esteemed communication, of the further
reduction of the quarantine on American cattle imported into Belgium
from five days to three. I am sure this important and advantageous
modification of the quarantine law will be highly appreciated by my
Government.
Please receive, etc.
[Inclosure 4 in No.
225—Translation.]
Decree modifying quarantine laws.
The ministry of agriculture, industry, and public works, considering the
royal decree of October 13, 1890 modifying article 19 of the law of
general administration of September 25, 1883, relative to the sanitary
police of domestic animals and also considering the ministerial decree
of December 15, 1890, modifying ministerial decree No. 3, of September
25, 1883, decrees:
- Article 1. Animals of the bovine,
ovine, and porcine species imported through the ports of
Antwerp, Gaud, and Ostend shall be held there in quarantine for
three days.
- Exception to this regulation may be made in the case of
animals intended for raising.
- Art. 2. The ministerial decree of
December 15, 1890, is repealed.
[Inclosure 5 in No.
225.—Translation.]
The Prince de
Chimay to Mr. Terrell.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Brussels, September 2,
1891.
Mr. Minister: In order to satisfy the desire
which your excellency has expressed, I hasten to forward a copy of the
law of June 18, 1887, establishing an import duty on cattle and meats.
This law was published in the Moniteur of July 1, 1887.
The minister of agriculture, industry, and public works, to whom I
communicated the note which your excellency sent me the 7th of August
last, begs me to cause you [Page 37] to be
informed of an opinion which he has given recently to the minister of
finance, touching a question which interests American commerce.
Mr. De Bruyn considers that, in view of the results of an inquiry which
two inspectors of his department have made, it is necessary to regard as
prepared meats pork meats imported from America after having been
subjected to brine and borax treatment; they are not then to be,
according to him, assimilated to the fresh meats whose importation is
subject to the régime of the law of the 18th of June, 1887.
I seize this occasion, etc.,
[Inclosure 6 in No.
225.—Translation.]
Law of June 18, 1887.
Leopold II, etc.
The chambers have adopted and we sanction the following:
- Article 1. The import duties upon
cattle and meats are established as follows:
- Bovine species.—Bulls and young
bulls, 4 centimes per kilogram live weight; beeves,
young beeves, calves, and calves not having milk teeth
razed, 5 centimes per kilogram live weight; cows and
heifers, 3 centimes per kilogram live weight.
- Ovine species.—Earns, sheep,
and wethers, 2.50 francs per head; lambs, 1 franc per
head.
- Fresh meats.—Entire animals,
halves, 15 centimes per kilogram; other animals and
game, 30 centimes per Kilogram.
- Beginning with January 1, 1888, fresh butchered meats will not
be admitted to entry except as entire carcasses, half carcasses,
or forequarters, and on condition that the lungs be
adhering.
- Art. 2. The Government is authorized
to permit, under the conditions which a royal decree will
determine, the admission in provisional franchise of duties
cattle of foreign origin sent to fairs and markets in Belgium
and destined for reëxportation.
- Art. 3. The Government is authorized
to prescribe by royal decree, in the radius reserved from
custom-house, the measures which it will judge necessary for the
prevention of the fraudulent importation of cattle.
We promulgate, etc.
