811.612 Oranges/Spain/—
The Spanish Ambassador (Riaño) to the Secretary of State
Mr. Secretary: In compliance with instructions just received from the Government of His Majesty, I have the honor to tell Your Excellency of the unpleasant surprise and deep regret with which my Government has heard of the decision of the Department of Agriculture of the United States to include the oranges of Spanish origin in the prohibition already declared against the Almeria grapes on sanitary grounds.
I am also instructed to represent to Your Excellency that the measures taken by the growers against the parasites which have caused the prohibition are serious and effective, as may have been found by the official investigation commissions sent to Spain, and that the exclusion from the United States does injury to the Spanish orange not only on account of the market in this country but also the good name of the merchandise in the other markets; and the Government of His Majesty understands that the application of such measures is not in keeping with the spirit of benevolence on the part of Spain with regard to the imports of iron, machinery, and automobiles, from the United States, nor the interest personally evinced by the President of the Council of Ministers of Spain in intervening in favor of American petroleum, notwithstanding the commercial balance which is very much against us.
The Spanish Government regards this as a matter of capital importance on account of the effect it works on national economics outside of the consideration of the duties by themselves, as it brings discredit on the Spanish fruits that enjoy world-wide fame.
I am also under instructions to declare to Your Excellency that the Government of His Majesty would be very much grieved if it were put in the position of adopting measures to meet adequately an economic and sanitary policy that is very unfavorable to the point of seeming unfriendly to Spain, which has given so much evidence of its sincere desire for cordial relations and joint interests with the United States.
[Page 716]Begging Your Excellency to give this matter your best attention and trusting in your ever friendly and valuable mediation, I avail myself [etc.]
- File translation revised.↩