Mr. Sherman to Mr. Draper.
Washington, June 22, 1897.
Sir: In January last, an Italian sanitary decree was issued relative to the importation into Italy of meats, etc., in which it was provided that in the case of shipments of meats from the United States our certificates of origin must be accompanied by an Italian consular visé. In the case of most of the European countries no consular visé was required.
At the suggestion of the Secretary of Agriculture the attention of the Italian Government was called to the discrimination, both through your embassy and through the Italian embassy at this capital.
I inclose copy of Baron Fava’s note of the 26th ultimo, in which it is frankly stated that his Government can not be expected to modify the the discrimination above referred to, unless more satisfactory rates are accorded by the pending tariff bill to certain Italian products.
As the Secretary of Agriculture points out in his letter of the 14th instant (copy inclosed), the position of the Italian Government is not logical. No discrimination is enforced by the pending tariff bill. Its rates, deemed necessary for the purpose of collecting a revenue, apply uniformly to the products of all countries. The Italian decree discriminates against a country which has taken especial precautions to insure the healthfulness of its meat exports.
I inclose for your information, and to aid you in the representations which it is desired you shall make to the Government of Italy, copy of Department’s instruction No. 2, of the 5th instant, to our minister to Belgium, setting forth the view which the Government of the United States entertains in regard to the matter.
Respectfully yours,