Mr. White to Mr. Hay.
Berlin, February 27, 1899.
Sir: I have the honor to confirm the telegram sent you yesterday as follows:
Hay, Secretary, Washington:
Orders have been issued according to which American oranges, lemons, and raisins imported into Germany, as well as all American fresh or dried fruit passing through Germany in bond, are no longer to be examined for San Jose scale.
White.
On Saturday Mr. Jackson was asked to call at the foreign office, and on his doing so that afternoon he was informed by Baron von Richthofen that orders had been issued by the Imperial secretary of state of the home office that Südfrüchts,” such as oranges, lemons, and raisins, imported from America at German customs houses, were not to be considered as “Obst” (fruit) in the sense of the Imperial decree of February 5, 1898 (see dispatch No. 279 of February 7, 1898, and further, that the passage through Germany in bond of fresh or dried fruit and of fruit-waste in general from America would be permitted.
[Page 346]Baron Richthofen added that consideration would not be given to the question of the possibility of admitting all dried fruit (see dispatch No. 663 of December 14, 1898) without examination tor San Jose scale. He said that his object in sending for Mr. Jackson was his wish to communicate the information given personally, in order to show the good will of the Imperial authorities.
I am, etc.,