Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1899

Mr. Thomas to Mr. Hay.

Legation of the United States,
Stockholm , September 5, 1899 .

No. 102.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 64, of August 5, inclosing copy of a dispatch from our consul at Gottenborg of July 7 last in reference to the importation of American horse meat into Sweden.

In compliance with your instruction I have addressed a note to the minister for foreign affairs on the subject, a copy of which is herewith inclosed, in which I quote that portion of the consul’s dispatch stating the objection of the Swedish customs officers to the word “inspector” on the certificate of inspection, that this word does not satisfy them that the inspector is a veterinarian, and informing the minister that in the light of the consul’s dispatch I am in receipt of information through the Department of State, from the Secretary of Agriculture, whose Department is charged with the appointment of such inspectors, that, in fact, all such inspectors are veterinarians, and adding that the inspection is thorough and complete under the laws of the United States and the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture.

I called personally to-day at the foreign office and read and delivered the note to the chief secretary, and in conference with him thereon stated that I hoped and expected that this information from the Secretary of Agriculture, thus communicated, would be conclusive in the premises.

I have, etc.,

W. W. Thomas, Jr.

[Inclosure.]

Mr. Thomas to Count Wachtmeister.

Legation of the United States,
Stockholm , September 4, 1899 .

Sir: I have the honor to inform your excellency that the United States consul at Gottenborg has called the attention of the Government of the United States to the matter of the importation of American horse meat into Sweden, and the regulations of the Swedish Government concerning the same.

In his dispatch the consul observes as follows:

“Objections have also been raised to the word ‘inspector’ on the Department of Agriculture certificate of inspection. The customs authorities claim that this does not satisfy them that the inspector is a veterinarian and, as such, competent to judge as to the condition of the meat and to sign the certificate.”

In the light of this dispatch, I am now in receipt of information, through the Department of State, from the Secretary of Agriculture, whose Department is charged with the appointment of such inspectors, that, as a matter of fact, all such inspectors are veterinarians. I am instructed to add that the inspection is thorough and complete under the laws of the United States and the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture.

I beg, etc.,

W. W. Thomas, Jr.