The morning call., 1891-03-21
PHELPS DIPLOMACY.
Winning the Germans Over to
American Beef.
Emperor Williams Palate Titkled With
Some Choice Cuts.
A Stale Dinner That Resulted In a Victory for
the Unltsd States President Har.
riSOn'S Policy.
Special to THE MORNING GAIL

WASHINGTON, March 2o.-The potency of
gastronomic diplomacy has been satisfac-
toriy demonstrated by the methods en-
ployed by Minister Phelps at Berlin in his
successful effort TO have the quarantine re-
strictlOns upon American beef removed
against the influence of the German farmer
and the natural pigheadedness of the Teu-
ton, when his Yankee ingenuity came to
his aid and scheme suggested itself which
lie fully explains in his official c0mmunica-
tion, just received by the State Department.
He obtained secretly from Paris cele-
brated French chef, and procuring from
Hamburg some of the choicest cuts from
American beaves, gave state dinner, at
which the meat was served up In the
highest style of the culinary art, with all
the toothsome and decorative 'auxiliaries
of a state dinner. The guests were charmed
and a request came from the Emperor's
Chamberlain to know the source of supply,
so that the imperial kitchen could be stocked.
As the conversation at the table was not
very favorable to American produce there
was quite laugh occasoned when Mr..
Phelps acknowledged the Texas steer"
1t had a most marked effect in official circles.
The Judgment of the official kitchen could
not be questioned and the restrictions were
finally removed. Mr.. Phelps hopes soon to
be able by similar ingenious means to yindi-
cate the character Of the much abused
American hog.
The decision of the President to assert
the rights of our pork and meat-packers
to the German and French markets is
in line with the policy which has pre-
vailed throughout the Administration.
The President has the power by the
Meat Inspection Act to shut out German
that he has the power Will be impressed
unon Ministers Phelps and Reid, with in
structionS 10 impress it upon the Foreign
Ministers of Germany and France.
Both Pheli aud Reid have brought the
suOjact OF discrimination against American
meats to the attention If the German and
French Governments and have received
some encouraging assurances. They will
probably press the subject with fresh
energy when they receive Secretary Blaine's
new instructions, and they will be able to
point out that the objections TO American
meat products on sanitary grounds have
been removed by the passage of the recent
Meat Inspection Act aud the Live Stock
Inspection Act of August 80, 1890 The
United States has shown its earnrstness in
tiIt uidtltl ny eOIlulDB u5CHNo "
under the Live Stock Inspection Act and in
creasng by SljO,000 the appropriation for
the Bureau Of Animal Industry OF the Agrl-
cultural Department to carry out the pro-
visions of both acts.
The President thinks it is nearly time for
Germany to show her hand" and make it
evident whether she has been sincere in ex-
cluding American products for sanitary
reasons or whether her real reasons have
been of political nature. 1t was generally
hali yyf Cor apN- INN caH har
strictiOns that she did so more for the pro-
lection of the German hog than her citizens,
and her action now will put her sincerity to
the test.
NEW YORK. March 20.-A Tribune'S
Washington special says: 1t is undenable
that the exclusion by Germany of saited
pork and bacon which has been inspected
IN the United States and found TO be
wholesome, sound and fit for human food"
according to the provisions of the law, is
the subject of grave consideration by the
President and Cabinet. 1t is not matter.
however, which justifes the sensational
treatment which some persons who are not
as well Informed as they might be are dis
posed to give it. 1t is true that PROPOSE
ton to invoke the authority of Section of
the act of August 80, 1890, was considered
and discussed at the Cabinet meeting to-
day, and that IN the absence of the Secre-
tary of State, who was confined to his home
BY lndlsp0Slti0n, and whose attitude on the
question was not known, no action was
taken. Section 8 gives the President the
power to close the ports of this country
against imports from any foreign country
which unjustly discrlminatss against the
products of the United States.
1t seams to be the opinion of statesmen
who are anxious to have the markets of
Germany opened to the admission of
American pork and bacon that all that is
needed to effect that result is for the admin-
is.ration to take firm stand on the law OF
August 80. 1890, and convince the German
Government that its interest lies in the di-
rectiOn of free commercial intercourse with
the United States. The President and
every member of the Cabinet heartily SYM
pathize with the object in view, and the
only question undecided is as to the best
method Of attaining 1t. There are indica-
tions that this will be determined within a
reasonable period. In the opinion of we'll
Informed ofiic ais in Washington, American
pork and bacon will be freely admitted into
France within short time, subject to a
tariff duty which will not he regarded as
ODpreSsIye.