It will be observed with regret that the British board of agriculture
decline to modify the present regulations, requiring the slaughter at
the port of debarkation of cattle imported from the United States.
[Inclosure 1 to No.
459.]
Mr. Bayard to
the Earl of Kimberley.
Embassy of the United States,
London, May
20, 1895.
My Lord: I have the honor to ask your
lordship that representations may be made to the proper local
authorities having control of the reception and distribution
throughout this Kingdom of cattle imported from the United States
for food purposes, in order that the interests of all parties
concerned in production, transportation, agistment, and consumption
may be alike favorably treated.
I am instructed that the restrictions at present applied prevent the
convenient distribution throughout the Kingdom of American cattle to
British pasturage and their consequent increase in weight and
improvement, with profit to the agriculturist as well as to the
butcher.
From a sanitary point of view, the American inspection, I am assured,
leaves nothing to be desired, and the proof is unquestioned that not
a single case of disease has been introduced by cattle shipped from
the United States, having first undergone there the inspection
prescribed by law; so that the intermingling of such live stock with
the herds of these islands would in no degree endanger the health of
the latter.
Penning up the cattle on their arrival at Birkenhead and other ports
of entry, and compelling their speedy slaughter at these points,
unquestionably creates an adverse discrimination against the
ownership of the cattle so treated, and at the same time interferes
with an improvement in their weight and value which would be to the
profit of British subjects, arising out of their transportation
inland, and their preparation for market at convenient points in the
hands of purchasers in this country.
The interests connected with agriculture are just now everywhere
depressed, and it is quite obvious that cooperation to relieve these
producers, as well as the great body of consumers, is most desirable
and worthy of encouragement.
Information has been given at this embassy of energetic efforts on
the part of the classes in this country directly interested in the
trade in live cattle to obtain by amendatory legislation a
relaxation of those ironbound restrictions which compel almost
instant slaughter of cattle at the points of arrival, and forbid
transportation inland to wholesome and improving pastures, at
localities adapted to the preparation of cattle for market.
Under the instructions of my Government I beg very respectfully to
urge these considerations upon those charged with Her Majesty’s
Government, so that the trade between the two countries may be
increased for the mutual benefit of both, and to that end present
restrictions which are without apparent benefit to anyone may be
relaxed in the interests of everyone.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 to No.
459.]
The Earl of Kimberley
to Mr. Bayard.
Foreign Office, June 19, 1895.
Your Excellency: I have the honor to state
that the note of the 20th ultimo respecting the regulations
requiring the slaughter of cattle imported from the United States
has received most careful consideration by the board of agriculture.
The board regret that it is not possible for them, consistently with
their statutory obligations, to comply with the wishes expressed by
your excellency, and to dispense with the requirement in question.
Since the date of the Earl of Rosebery’s note of the 14th of March,
1893, cattle have from time to time been landed in this country from
the United States which on examination have been found to be
affected with pleuro-pneumonia, and this fact of itself, the board
observe, leaves them no alternative but to come to the conclusion
that this requirement must be maintained.
I have, etc.,
