Mr. White to Mr. Hay.
Berlin, January 25, 1900.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that a memorandum has recently been prepared by the Imperial health office, which shows the restrictions now in force in Germany (Empire) in regard to the importation of cattle from abroad.
In accordance with this memorandum the importation of beef cattle (Rindern) from Russia, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United States, Great Britain, and Norway and Sweden is prohibited, while similar cattle from Austro-Hungary, France, and Denmark may be imported to quarantine stations and slaughterhouses, and cattle may be imported from Austro-Hungary and France for breeding purposes. The importation of sheep is prohibited from Russia, Austro-Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Norway and Sweden, while sheep from the United States, France, and Denmark may be brought to quarantine stations and slaughterhouses, and sheep from France may also be imported for breeding purposes. Hogs may not be imported at all if coming from Austro-Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Denmark, or Norway and Sweden, and hogs from Russia, France, and the United States may only be brought to quarantine stations and slaughterhouses, although French hogs may also be imported for breeding purposes.
The importation of cattle to the quarantine stations and slaughterhouses is, moreover, subject to considerable restriction, as is also the importation of cattle for breeding purposes. For instance, only a limited number of hogs may be brought into Germany from Russia, and these must be killed at the slaughterhouses at Beuthen, Kattowitz, Myslowitz, and Tarnowitz. The importation of beef, cattle from Galicia into Prussia has been specially prohibited; from France live cattle may be brought to the slaughterhouses of five parishes on the border only, and only in a quantity sufficient to supply the needs of those parishes (Gemeinde) and the cities of Metz and Diedenhofen. From Denmark cattle may be brought to the public quarantine stations alone, and then, after they have passed the “tuberculine” test, to the slaughterhouses. Thin cattle (Magervieh) may be brought into the country only from April 1 to May 31, and from October 1 to December 31, after passing through quarantine or undergoing the tuberculine test. Only the Luxemburg frontier is open for the importation of cattle, conditionally upon their being accompanied by a proper health certificate.
In spite of all these precautions, however, it has not been possible to prevent the spreading of cattle diseases within the Empire. The situation in this respect on the 15th instant is shown by the statement which was recently submitted to the Reichstag.
In the memorandum above referred to it is further stated that foreign countries have prohibited the importation of German cattle in much the same way. Austro-Hungary accepts no Prussian cattle, and cattle from other parts of Germany only when accompanied by health certificates. Russia permits the importation only on the strength of a health certificate, while Switzerland, Great Britain, Denmark, Norway and Sweden prohibit the importation of all cattle, and France and [Page 498] Belgium that of beef cattle and hogs, the Netherlands that of hogs, and the United States that of beef cattle. The importation to quarantine stations and slaughterhouses of sheep is permitted by Belgium and France, of beef cattle and sheep by the Netherlands, of sheep and hogs by the United States, and of beef cattle, sheep, and hogs by Canada. Only Luxemburg leaves its frontier entirely open.
I am, etc.,