Office of the Historian

Mr. Townsend to Mr. Hay.

Legation of the United States,
Brussels, October 26, 1899.
No. 26.]

Sir: Referring to Department’s instructions No. 7, of July 10, 1899, and to my reply thereto, numbered 11, of July 24, 1899, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy and translation of a note just received from the minister of foreign affairs, in which he informs me that the minister of agriculture finds it impossible to make any alteration in the royal decree of 22d January, 1897, governing the importation of live stock into Belgium from countries beyond the sea.

The minister of agriculture is also of the opinion that the delay of three days allowed before slaughtering is sufficient to permit the cattle to recover from the effects of the sea voyage.

In this connection I may add that I have had several conversations on this important subject with various members of this Government, and they all unite in expressing the opinion that it will be impossible to alter the existing regulations for the present, and, furthermore, that these regulations apply indiscriminately to all live stock imported into Belgium from countries beyond the sea.

My own opinion is that the minister of agriculture is holding out for a further reduction of duties on sugar imported into the United States from Belgium, and that no further concession will be granted in the matter of cattle imported from the United States until they receive assurances of concessions in the matter of sugar.

I have, etc.,

Lawrence Townsend.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Mr. de Favereau to Mr. Townsend.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Brussels, October 23, 1899.

Mr. Minister: I did not fail communicating to the minister of agriculture your excellency’s letter kindly addressed me on 6th July last, on the subject of the régime at present in force in Belgium concerning the importation of live stock from the United States of America.

My colleague observes that the régime originated by the royal decree of 22d January, 1897, is uniformly applied to the bovine species of foreign origin imported through the Belgian ports, and that in reality the delay of three days allowed before slaughtering these animals has been admitted to be sufficient to permit them to recover from the fatigues of the sea voyage.

The minister of agriculture adds that if, in fact, since the ministerial decree of 25th May last, the importation of American cattle into Belgium is still relatively of small importance, it would be wrong to impute the cause of this to the period of time stipulated before the slaughtering of the animals imported.

I do not doubt, Mr. Minister, that, after anew examining the situation, the importers of American cattle will acknowledge the advantages really procured by the régime in force.

I avail myself, etc.,

de Favereau.