Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-27
Investigation to he Made.

The action of the German government in
prohibiting the importation of cattle and
fresh beef was not entirely unexpected by
the Agricultural Department, although the
officials had hoped up to the last moment
that the Germans would prove open to rea-
son. The matter will not be allowed to
rest where IL stands, but our government
at once will cause thorough investigation
to be made of the cases of alleged Texas
fever on which the German government has
seen fit to act in such summary fashion
No doubt is felt here that these alleged
cases will turn out to be founded on a
mistaken diagnosis, for If there is any
cattle disease that the German veterinar-
ians know little or nothing about, that dis
ease is Texas fever, a purely climatic nom
infectious FEVER peculiar TO America
That Is the oph. on of the Agricultural De-
partment experts who have studied the dis
ease for years and are aware of the state of
knowledge on the subject in Europe. If the
departmental examination, as expected, re
suits in disproving the existence of the cases
complained Of our government will enter q
very vigorous protest against the action OF
Germany and geek to make IL clear that the
reason assigned for the destruction of our
meat trade is disingenuously stated, which
fact is not expected to influence Congress
favorably toward the rectifcation of the
sugar schedules of our tariff act sought so
urgently by the German government.
Today the following telegram was sent to
the Secretary of State:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
Referring to your communication in re-
gard to the prohibition of American cattle
and fresh beef by Germany, please represent
tC the American ambassador that Texas
fever is not communicated by diseased cat
tie, so that even IL the reported discovery
of this disease is correct there is no danger
to German cattle; also that the meat of
cattle affected by this disease has never
been shown to be dangerous to the con-
sumner. This government inspects all meat
exports, and certifies that the cattle were
free from disease when slaughtered A
vigorous protest should, therefore, be en-
tered against the proposed action.
(Signed)
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE"
This telegram states the position of the
Agricultural Department in nutshell, and
the points made as to the Don-communica-
BILE character of the disease and the HARM
less character of the meat from cattle suf-
ferirg from the fever are sustained by
great mass of uncontradicted expert testt-
mony.
1t is said at the department to be ex-
tremely improbable that any diseased cat
that all expectations are absolutely pro-
hibited from the zone III the southern sec
ton of the United States where the dis
ease appears, and the rigid inspection sys-
tenn would prevent any such cattle from
reaching New York or the eastern ports.
1t Is admitted to be within the bounds of
possibility that some cattle cars with soil
and water from Texas might have gotten
into the northwest, ard thus caused one
or two cases of fever, but this is said to be
very improbable.
The Secretary of State had been informed
by the German ambassador that the i'm
portation of fresh beef and cattle from the
United States to Germany would be pro-
hibited.
Many persons accept this notice as an
indication of the purpose of Germany to
retaiiate commercially against the United
States on account of the discrimination
against German beet sugar in the new
tariff law.