Ambassador Storer
to the Secretary of State.
American Embassy,
Vienna, December 19,
1905.
No. 294.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that the firm
of Abeles Brothers, of Eger, Bohemia, have informed the embassy by
letter dated December 5, but just received, a copy of which is inclosed,
that a sample shipment of salted beef, consigned from Chicago to Eger,
which had been duly inspected and certified by the United States
Department of Agriculture, has been refused admittance to the dominions
of Austria-Hungary by the customs officials of Eger, pursuant to orders
of the Austrian ministry of the interior.
Without waiting to report the case to the department, I have ventured to
ask for an explanation of this action of the customs officials, and beg
to inclose a copy of my letter to the minister of foreign affairs.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
Abeles Brothers to
the American Embassy.
Eger,
Bohemia, December 5,
1905.
We had intended to import American salted beef from Chicago to
Austria, and as an experiment had a cask of the said salted beef
sent to us. The Austrian authorities, namely, the ministry of
finance, in accord with the ministry of the interior, have
prohibited us from importing this meat, although we furnished an
inspection certificate from the American authorities; and also
stated that we were ready to have the condition of the meat as
regards health examined here in Austria.
The Austrian ministry of the interior has prevented the importation
of this meat, although there is in existence no express (legal)
prohibition for the same, and we beg to inclose herewith a copy of
the official decision in this matter in order that you may learn the
view of the Austrian ministry of the interior.
As the Government of the United States of America should have an
interest in the exportation of large quantities of such meat, and in
the importation into Austria especially, we bring to your knowledge
the groundless prohibition of such importation on the part of the
Austrian Government, and will be thankful to the embassy if it would
induce the Austrian ministry of the interior to withdraw this import
prohibition.
Very respectfully, yours,
Abeles Brothers.
[Page 44]
[Inclosure 2.—Copy.]
Ambassador Storer to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs.
American Embassy,
Vienna, December 19,
1905.
F. O.
No. 179.
Your Excellency: I have the honor to bring
to the attention of your excellency that it is reported to this
embassy that the imperial and royal customs officials of Eger have
recently refused to allow to enter into the imperial and royal
dominions a cask of salted beef produced and prepared in the United
States, which had been officially examined by the United States
authorities before leaving the United States, and which has been
consigned directly to Eger from Chicago, in the United States.
As I am ignorant of the reasons for this action on the part of the
imperial royal customs authorities, and as the exclusion of this
shipment of salted beef would appear to be in violation of the terms
of the treaty of 1829 between Austria-Hungary and the United States,
I have the honor to request your excellency to cause an
investigation of the circumstances to be made, and if the facts are
such as have been reported, to be good enough to inform me of the
reasons for such exclusion.
I take this occasion, etc.,
Bellamy Storer,
American Ambassador.
