Mr. Grubb to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Madrid, May 25, 1892.
(Received June 13.)
No. 257.]
Sir: I had the honor to send you last night the
following telegram:
Royal decree published to-day removing restrictions of decree of
November 9, 1887, on pork coming from the United States. All that is
now required is certificate of origin and of inspection in
accordance with the law of the United States March 3, 1891. All
greases prepared by action of fire and also fat bacon are exempt
from inspection here and from bringing a certificate of inspection
from whence they come.
I now inclose a note from the Duke of Tetuan and translation dated May 24,
1892, formally announcing the removal of the restriction upon the
importation of American pork into this country and the adjacent Spanish
islands.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure in No.
257—Translation.]
Duke of Tetuan to Mr.
Grubb.
Ministry of State,
Aranjuez, May 24,
1892.
Excellency: With reference to the notes of your
legation relative to the importation into Spain of pork meats proceeding
from the United States, I have the honor to make it known to your
excellency the antecedents communicated to me by my colleague, the
minister of the interior, and the resolutions which upon this matter
have been taken by His Majesty’s Government.
The preventive measures contained in the royal order of July 10, 1880,
were demanded by the necessity of avoiding the development of diseases
the germs of which existed in many of the meats imported from North
America, as it was found out by their microscopic analysis. The
Government of the United States acknowledging, no doubt, the right of
lawful defense of public health which issued the above mentioned
measures of cautiousness in Spain and other countries established under
date of March 3, 1891, a series of most important measures intended for
the prevention of the importation of live stock and meat which are not
accompanied with a certificate of origin and salubrity issued by
official surveyors.
His Majesty’s Government at once appreciated the efficiency which such
dispositions would bring towards securing public health without
interrupting traffic, and
[Page 496]
later on the foundation of its views was confirmed by the experience of
their execution, and in this sense it has decided to substitute for the
preventive regimen of 1880 another, in which, the provisions of said law
of the United States being adopted, the control and watchfulness which
guarantee the imperious duty of looking after public health are not
neglected on the part of Spanish administration. Said system is
contained in the following rules:
- First. Pork meats proceeding from the United States are
exempted from microscopic examination and payment of
corresponding duties established in rule 2 of the royal order of
November 8, 1887, provided that the boxes containing said
merchandise shall come accompanied with the certificates of
origin and inspection issued in accordance with the law passed
in that nation on March 3, 1891, and it is certified in the same
certificate that the above-mentioned meats are free from
trichinae or other causes of danger for the health of the
consumers.
- Second. The pork meats of the above-stated place of origin
which shall not come accompanied with the certificate already
mentioned, shall continue subject to the provisions of said rule
2 of the royal order of November 9, 1887. The maritime health
officers and the individuals authorized to make that survey in
the custom-houses of the frontiers must report every month to
the direction general of charity and health of the number of
boxes which have been examined, the nature of their contents,
place of origin, the name of the vessel which brought them, that
of the consignee, and the result of the survey.
- Third. The prohibition established by royal orders of February
28 and July 10, 1880, on the importation into the Peninsula and
adjacent islands of greases proceeding from the United States of
America which have not been obtained through pression continues
in force. The greases so prepared and bacon without muscular
part continue to be exempted from examination and the obligation
to carry a certificate of examination from the place of
origin.
- Fourth. Through the charity and health direction general the
proper officers shall be informed of the law and regulations for
its execution issued by the United States Government, and which
is referred to.
I avail myself, etc.,
El. Duque de Tetuan.
