Mr. Draper to Mr. Sherman.
Rome, Italy , March 26, 1898 .
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 121, of March 8, with letters from the Secretary of Agriculture and [Page 406] the Armour Packing Company, on the subject of the importation of fresh meats into Italy and through Italy, in bond to Switzerland; and to reply that I have made inquiries of the director-general of customs, and from him have obtained the following information:
There are no restrictions on the importation of fresh meats into Italy, beyond the requirement of an American certificate of sanitary inspection. The duty is 12 francs in gold, per hundred kilos. So far as Government regulation is concerned the meat can be sent in bond through Genoa to Switzerland.
As to the Swiss tariff and regulations I am unable to give definite information, although the copy of the Swiss tariff in my possession indicates no duty on fresh meats. I would be glad to make further inquiry on this point, if desired, but presume that this information can be obtained more easily through the Swiss mission.
I am, etc.,