Mr. Hill to Mr.
Bryan.
Department of State,
Washington, May 25,
1900.
No. 195.]
Sir: In connection with the Department’s No.
194 of the 23d instant, in regard to Brazilian law, either enacted or in
contemplation, providing that “the importation of articles made abroad
and bearing labels partly or wholly in the Portuguese language, is not
permitted except when imported from Portugal, or when manufactured for
factories,” I inclose a copy of the correspondence with the Humphreys
Homeopathic Medicine Company in the matter.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Humphreys’ Homeopathic
Medicine Company to Mr. Hay.
Sir: We desire to place before your
Department a matter in which this company is especially interested
and in which many other export houses have a large interest, and
that is the threatened law in the United States of Brazil by which
it is intended to shut out all goods of foreign manufacture bearing
a Portuguese name, wrapper, label, or anything to indicate its use
or purpose in the language of their country.
We beg to state that several years ago we registered under treaty
stipulations our trade-marks as used in this country, conforming
with all their rules and regulations.
We have spent in Brazil upward of half a million dollars for office
expenses, traveling expenses, and advertising in making our goods
known. This has all been done in good faith on our part.
We would ask that you protest against this unusual commercial
treatment. Surely a friendly nation has no right to destroy what has
caused so much labor, time, and expense to build up.
Will you kindly give us any information on this subject that is
available to the public and oblige,
Yours, truly,
- Humphreys’ Homeopathic Medicine
Company.
- H. B. Harding, Actuary.
[Page 56]
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Hill to Mr.
Harding.
Department of State,
Washington, May 25,
1900.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the 21st instant having reference to a “threatened
law in the United States of Brazil by which it is intended to shut
out all goods of foreign manufacture bearing a Portuguese name,
wrapper, label, or anything to indicate its use or purpose in the
language of their country.”
This Department has no confirmation of the action said to be
contemplated, but a similar complaint having previously been
received from another firm in the United States, the minister of the
United States at Rio de Janeiro was instructed to report the matter
fully to the Department. A copy of your letter has been sent to the
minister in connection with that instruction. Upon the receipt of
the minister’s report the Department will, if necessary, take the
proper steps to protect American rights under the trade-mark
agreement between the United States and Brazil.
I am, sir, etc.,
