Mr. Hay to Mr. Bryan.

No. 196.]

Sir: I inclose a copy of a letter from the J. C. Ayer Company asking that you will protest against the enforcement of the law forbidding the importation of foreign manufactured products that carry inscriptions all or in part in the Portuguese language, excepting when imported from Portugal.

The wrappers of this company’s preparations have been duly registered in Brazil as trade-marks.

The law in question appears, therefore, to violate the trade-mark agreement between the United States and Brazil, and is in restraint of our lawful trade and intercourse with Brazilians, denying practical communication with the people.

You will energetically protest against the enforcement of the law.

You are referred in this connection to No. 194 of the 23d and No. 195 of the 25th ultimo.

I am, etc.,

John Hay.
[Inclosure.]

J. C. Ayer Company to Mr. Hay.

Sir: We beg to call your attention to the law which the Brazilian authorities announce will be put into effect July 1 next forbidding the importation of foreign manufactured products that carry inscriptions all or in part in the Portuguese language, excepting when imported from Portugal. The intention back of this law is, of course, to prevent the sale in Brazil of American or other foreign goods which need to have on the bottles, tins, or other containers reading matter in Portuguese for the use and guidance of consumers.

There is a very large exportation from the United States to Brazil of food products put up in tins or otherwise, medicines, and perfumery which would be almost entirely killed by the enforcement of such a law.

This law originally was intended by the Brazilian authorities to be put into force on January 1, 1900, but by reason of the strong remonstrances made by the foreign representatives there has been postponed until July 1 next.

The wrappers, in Portuguese, of our preparations—and we believe it is the same with most of the American articles affected—have been duly registered in Brazil as [Page 58] trade-marks, and we beg to quote as follows from a letter just received from our resident agents at Rio de Janeiro:

“As trade-marks were the subject of an international treaty some years ago (we believe in 1879 with the United States), we are of the opinion that if foreign representatives take the matter up strongly enough they will convince this Government that rights acquired under treaty can not be lightly canceled by the passing of such a law as that proposed, at all events without formal notice being given the countries interested of the proposed modification to be introduced, and an arrangement come to with regard to the time to be allowed for making any change. We greatly rely on the combined influence of the British and German ministers to get it annulled. We hope the United States minister will take joint action, but in view of the interests involved, would recommend your urging on the authorities at Washington to issue positive instructions to the minister to press the question firmly and energetically.”

As the American interests and trade rights threatened by the new law are of considerable importance, we beg you will instruct the United States minister to Brazil to take joint action with the British and German ministers against the same.

We have, etc.,

J. C. Ayer Co.,
Alfred E. Rose, Treasurer
.