Mr. Patenôtre to Mr. Olney.
Washington , May 26, 1896 .
Mr. Secretary of State: The minister for foreign affairs of the French Republic, having been informed that the American consul at Havre had received instructions to the effect of forbidding the exportation of our cattle to the United States, requests me-to call your kind attention to this prohibition, which to him does not seem to be justified.
The information furnished by the proper department gives no notice in fact of any contagious disease such as to excite fears which could explain this measure. Besides, shipments of French cattle are confined to a very small number of select specimens, therefore examined with particular care, and consequently offering exceptional guarantees for good health. The Government of the Republic hopes that under these circumstances the Federal Government will kindly modify the instructions sent to its consuls and put an end to a prohibition which can be but the result of a misapprehension.
Accept, etc.,