Mr. Grubb to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Madrid, May 19, 1892.
(Received June 2.)
No. 252.]Sir: I had the honor to send you the following
telegram:
I am authorized to inform you that the prohibition on the importation
of American pork into Spain has been taken off.
I received, this morning, information from the Count of Casa Miranda, private
secretary to Mr. Canovas, assuring me that the prohibition on the
importation of American pork into Spain had been taken off, and that the
royal decree, announcing this fact, would be published before the end of
this week.
At 2 o’clock I had an interview with the Duke of Tetuan in the ministry of
state, and he also informed me officially of this fact. I may add the duke
expressed himself as well pleased with the result of the negotiations, and
congratulated me upon the course I had taken in refusing
[Page 494]
to accept the report of the medical committee,
and in taking the matter personally to Mr. Canovas.
I inclose a copy and translation of the argument with which, at the close of
my last interview with Mr. Canovas, I furnished him.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 252.
Translation.]
Mr. Grubb to Mr.
Canovas.
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, May 14,
1892.
Excellency: Permit me to concentrate for your
excellency’s convenience the declarations of the United States upon the
subject of the prohibition on American pork by Spain.
The United States most respectfully petitions that you will raise this
prohibition, for the following reasons:
- First. That this article of good and cheap food, though it may
have been, at the time the prohibition was placed upon it,
impure, by the carelessness of those who managed it, is, by
reason of the care which is now exercised in its production and
preparation, a wholesome and sanitary article of food.
- Second. That all the other great nations who, with Spain,
found it necessary to place a prohibition upon this article,
having investigated, have, in the interests of right and
justice, rescinded their prohibition, and Spain is the only
great nation which still retains it.
- Third. That the great possessions of Spain are now, and have
been for some time, freely using this article of food without
the slightest detriment to the health of the people, and in view
of this it would seem greatly unjust to declare that it is an
unwholesome food for the people of Spain.
Your excellency will observe that the United States does not complain of
the tariff of Spain, which is, perhaps, sufficiently high to prevent the
importation of American pork; but it respectfully asks that an article
of food that is in universal use by the people of the United States, and
also by the people of some of the great Spanish possessions (by the
permission of Spain), and in the preparation of which the greatest
possible care is now exercised, shall not be condemned as unwholesome,
and therefore injured in the eyes of the world by the great nation of
Spain.
Accept, etc.,
