The Acting Secretary of
State to Chargé Hitt.
Department of State,
Washington, July 20,
1906.
No. 114.]
Sir: I inclose herewith a copy of a letter from
the Secretary of Agriculture, transmitting correspondence between
Messrs. Armour & Co., of Chicago, and the Italian consulate in that
city, in regard to the inspection of meat and meat products shipped to
Italy, by examiners appointed by the Italian consulate-general at New
York, at the expense of the exporters.
You are requested to convey to the Italian Government the information
contained in the letter of the Secretary of Agriculture.
I am, sir, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
The Acting Secretary of
Agriculture to the Secretary of
State.
Department of Agriculture,
Washington, July 14,
1906.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith
for your consideration and such action as you may deem necessary,
copy of a letter received from Armour & Co., Chicago, 111. It
has not yet been possible to completely inaugurate the inspection
service as provided for by the act of Congress of June 30 last, but
when this inspection is installed it would seem that this Government
would be justified in expecting foreign governments to receive
without qualification the official certificate of the United
States.
I have, etc.,
[Page 954]
[Subinclosure 1.]
Armour & Co. to
the Secretary of
Agriculture.
Sir: We beg to call your attention to the
attached memorandum from the acting consul-general of Italy,
situated in this city, also the attached memorandum from the Italian
Chamber of Commerce, New York.
The consul-general here appointed a commission some time ago to
inspect the stock yards and packing houses, and made a report to his
Government, the contents of which we are not familiar with.
He stated in an interview that the writer had with him that he had
received instructions from his home Government to satisfy himself as
to the healthfulness of all food products shipped from his territory
to Italy, and, under no circumstances, to legalize invoices or
health certificates until he had so satisfied himself. His method of
satisfying himself as to the healthfulness of food products shipped
from our packing houses is to appoint a medical man, or some other
person whom he considers to be an expert, and have him present at
the time of packing, or have a number of the packages of each
shipment opened and examined by him. For this inspection he has
notified us that fees will be charged.
We have had one shipment inspected as a test, and he notifies us that
his fee for this service will be $5, and declined to legalize the
certificate of the Department of Agriculture until that fee is
paid.
As the instructions from his Government are apparently a measure for
the protection of the health of the Italian people, it does not seem
to us proper that the shipper should be called upon to pay any tax
or fees for the inspection of the product by the Italian consul’s
representatives; such fee should either be paid by the Italian
Government or collected from the receiver of the goods at the port
of entry.
You will notice that the consulate-general in New York has appointed
as his official examiners Messrs. Thomas Goulard & Co., licensed
inspectors, and it is our understanding that these inspectors are
also expected to collect their fees from the shipper.
We shall be grateful if you will lay this matter before the
Department of State with the request that they represent to the
Italian embassy the impropriety of collecting from American shippers
fees for certificates of healthfulness given under regulations made
for the benefit of Italian consumers.
It is important that prompt action be taken upon this matter, as we
have made a number of shipments which have been inspected by the
consul, but upon which he refuses to legalize the certificates on
account of our declining to pay the fees, and we have a number of
contracts open that should, in the course of business, be shipped
within the next few days. It is our understanding that other packers
in Chicago and other cities are affected in a similar manner.
Very respectfully,
[Subinclosure 2.]
The Acting Consul-General of
Italy to Messrs. Armour &
Co.
R.
Consolato d’Italia,
Chicago,
Ill., June 22,
1906.
Dear Sir: I thank you for your kind letter
of the 20th instant. A commission of physicians representing me and
exhibiting a document signed by me will visit your establishments.
You can now send for the certificates presented some time ago at
this It office, referring to shipments already sent to Italy. I must
also notify you that by stringent orders of my Government, I will
from now on and till contrary dispositions, before legalize
certificates for meats or all other products of animal industry to
be shipped to Italy, have them inspected by a personal delegate of
mine who will report to me its purity and healthfulness. I ask you
therefore to notify this royal office before you make shipments of
any kind for Italy, as to enable me to proceed without delay to such
inspections. All expenses to such inspections will be at your
charge.
Very truly, yours,
[Page 955]
[Subinclosure 3.]
notice to exporters and shippers of meat
products (fresh, canned, salted, or
pickled, and otherwise cured) from the
united states of america to ports of italy.
Italian Chamber of Commerce,
35 Broadway, New York, June 29, 1906.
The Italian Government has notified all customs districts of the
Kingdom to refuse admittance to any shipment of meat products coming
from United States ports, unless it be accompanied by a certificate
of soundness.
According to this new rule the Italian consulate-general in New York
has appointed official examiners Messrs. Thomas Goulard & Co.,
licensed inspectors, 36 and 38 Whitehall street, New York, who will
deliver to parties interested in sworn certificates, to be legalized
by the Italian consulate-general in New York, in order to fulfill
the requirements of the Italian Government.
For any further information apply to the
Italian Chamber of Commerce,
235 Broadway, New York.
