Mr. White to Mr. Hay.

No 831.]

Sir: On Tuesday, April 18, 1899, the Reichstag began the discussion of the general meat inspection bill.

A motion having been made by a Bavarian representative to refer it to a committee of twenty-one, a debate ensued which lasted two days, and in this considerable opposition was manifested to the bill, especially by the Agrarians. There was also some evidence of hostility from somewhat unexpected sources, but it was clearly based on misunderstandings which will be removed in the committee to which it was finally referred.

It is probable that the bill will not be reported until about a month from this date. Just what its fate will be is uncertain, and while we have hopes of its passage at this session, it will not surprise me to see it go over until the next.

One of the most troublesome features in the case for us has been, and will be for some time to come, the argument put into the mouths of our opponents by recent charges against American meat supplies to our troops in the West Indies, but I feel confident that the bill will finally pass in fair form.

Most valuable service has been rendered by Mr. Stiles, our scientific attaché, who, in discussing the various questions raised by such ministers as Count Posadowski and Baron Hammer stein, as well as with various German experts and dealers, has done very much to get the bill into good shape.

To my regret he has been suddenly called to America by the dying condition of his wife’s father, but as he fully expects to be here when the bill comes again before Parliament, no injury is likely to result from his absence.

I defer any detailed report of the speeches until the matter is more [Page 490] fully developed, but inclose herewith two printed copies of the proceedings in the Reichstag1 with the statement that it was Dr. Stiles’s special request that one of them be forwarded without delay to the Secretary of Agriculture.

I am, etc.,

Andrew D. White.
  1. Not printed.