660p.11212 Lard/1
The Consul at Riga (Kliefoth) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 4.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith five copies of a recent decree dated January 10, 1928, issued by the Government of Latvia55 regarding the authentication by the Latvian representatives abroad of the certificates of origin accompanying shipments of lard imported into Latvia and to point out that the decree, while there is no spirit of discrimination, is largely directed against the American product. The regulation becomes effective on March 10, 1928. The decree at first glance appears to be reasonable measure, and from the point of view of the American manufacturer is an added weapon to prevent the sale of impure or imitated American lard. In practice the regulation will make the export of lard from the United States to Latvia a difficult problem to solve. This situation is due to the fact that the Latvian importers of American lard buy the product on the exchange rather than by orders placed with the manufacturer or his European representative. Practically the entire amount consumed in Latvia is purchased from “floating” stocks, that is stocks en route to Europe, when it is too late to authenticate the accompanying documents in the United States and which are consequently reshipped from Hamburg or Copenhagen. This form of trade is one that is rapidly assuming large dimensions, particularly in countries like Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Czechoslovakia and others, where it is not feasible for American exporters to ship goods on consignment to their agencies. This trade is worthy of encouragement rather than suppression. In fact it is this method of trade that has been conspicuously important in the sale of such American products as lard, fresh and dried fruits, shoes, oil and grain. In view of the foregoing, the Consulate has the honor to recommend that measures be taken to comply with the requirements of the decree or that steps be taken to secure the acceptance of the [Page 231] American certificate of origin in its present form by the Latvian officials.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩