Baron Saurma to Mr. Gresham.
Washington , October 31, 1894 .
Mr. Secretary of State: That which I had the honor to express on several occasions to your excellency as my personal opinion is now officially confirmed by instructions which I have received from Berlin.
The Imperial Government when it decreed the prohibition of cattle, far from intending it as a retaliation, was merely prompted by veterinary considerations.
By expert authority the existence of cases of sickness was established in two separate cargoes, which were recognized with absolute [Page 233] certainty as Texas fever, and only thereupon was the prohibition of importation issued.
There remained no doubt that in Germany one must have recourse to protection against this dangerous disease, which heretofore had not made its appearance among cattle there, and that a resort to prohibitory measures was compulsory.
Notwithstanding the immediate existing danger, all shipments from the United States made up to the 29th of October were admitted out of special consideration under compulsory slaughter on landing.
The action taken in this case is exactly the same pursued toward all other countries whose cattle show any symptoms of contagious disease germs.
The Imperial Government believes that the Government of the United States has the less ground for complaint, as its own sanitary regulations are specially severe toward foreign countries, as section 7 of the act of August 30, 1890, and No. 5 of the provisions for its execution exemplify.
Accept,