New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-17
AMERICAN CATTLEI IN FRANCE
THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCTION MOVE
TO FAVOR THE FRENCH GROWERS.

ALLEGATIONS OF DISEASE IN AMERICAN BEEF
MERELY AN EXCUSE TO STOP COMPETITIONS
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Introduction or the entry or American
cattle by the French Government was uouo'e9s
a great surprise to the exporters IN 'he 'ni''u
States especially as they had the assurance OF 10
less an authority than the Secretary OF Agriculture
at WASHINGTON that the United States was e"'"eS
free from infectious diseases among catue'
The dry season in France during lS95 produce'i
@ lack ~ nasturago a scarcity OF hay, straw ana
fodder TO such an alarming extent mat "cO"'" ''7
20 tho renor, OF the French Minister Of Agriculture
rho number OF cattle reduced iulIy ohe-'h.iN
The number OF herds in the 6red' Cd''ie-i"9
districts fell about 81 per cent below the murine"
throughout the country from MarselHeS " -"
Channel norts the mayors were holding meetings
and ordering the butchers 20 sell 'helr hie"' az
about half the usual price. II was onn,o" oo'i
Main. AT thai epoch that cattle were hardly wore"
The price OF their hides ana quite luz
raised because German capitalists came hun" ~
SAGE 10 buy up French cattle for canning puiPo,'
The crop OF hay and fodder was plen'hu' i"1'
wear. making complete change; the price o, a.
Moro than doubled The small farmers VINO H'u
noon able to carry over their few head no" 'o.l'N
an exceedingly fine market FOR theIr pe"''
large proprietors. who had been tiap eno'9
buy American hay TO keep Their oa'Ie a.'' ~
bogan TO reap an abundant harvest Meat rose
the increase was greater thah inns -.
The high price Of cattle In France ha'"'""H n"
.,an,od tho attention Of the American exporter
and soon after the butchers OF La NHe'te J." as
began TO import beef from the '"'''i -, .,,
cnecial injuries were made concerning 'hlS sup
,rhe official report stated that Il was IN no way
,for,or 10 the native product In fact many "en'
ca far as TO pronounce themselves IN IdNoi Vi 4'
can beef preferring it to the freneh'
Increased over .CO head came into me country ""
alarmed. i, was commonly reported in the papers
.bo, rho Americans were getting the benefit oil 'he
high price OF meat in France.
This condition of affairs frightened the freh'h-
men the idea Of the United States gaming any ioe!
from France. when all their tariffs were aiTd's'N
IN such a manner that the United states Woul" oe
forced TO pay the maximum custom duties! some
thing must be done and that right quickly TO stop
This Importation OF American cattle. How We're 'h'l
10 go TO work? The price OF all KINDS OF meat i""
already become high that few OF me "o'AI"s
classes could afford to put i on their 'aoeS iio'
than once or twice week. Those tnal ie''lN''
low wages could not buy II at all; even tnef paotS
were only allowed half pint Of mix per Genl' De-
cause the price had risen three ana Tour cents d
ouart To prohibit absolutely the Importation o.
American meat would arouse those VINO were al
ready too deeply oppressed. Some preteXt must De
found. Where there Is VIII way WIZ O0 N''N'''
discovered.
Throughout the great cattlogrowing districts OF
France strong petitions were sent in to the 'rOVerh-
ment calling for prohibition OF the unhini'eN In
portation OF cattle from the ih'ed stats me
denartments of Pas de Calais, Haute \ierne ana
o.her neiehborng departments began 10 MAKE great
demands for this Introduction. But until u was
suggested 10 the cOmplanants that they must NM
some excuse. there was no thought OF stating that
the cattle were diseased
l,ollovyinc the hint several diseases were al once
suggested as having existed in the United states
some wears ago and il was reported that they had
been found in the cattle imported from America
lately The abattoirs in France nave experts 10
examine all meat. and if any is diseased II Is al
once condemned and not allowed 70 be put up for
sale An examination Of the reports from several
cities where American beef is never sold sho"
that the same diseases that according to cattle
raisers affect imported American cattle exist In
France and hive existed for years But notwith-
standing the above facts the Minister OF Agrlcul-
ture has issued decree that published in the
journal Offciel" February o. 1895, by which it is
ordered:
Article I. The importation into France and the
transit Of animals Of the bovine race coming Iron, IRON
the United States II America shall be forbldqeh
from passing our frontiers by land or sea- until 1t
Ali animals Of the bovine race that shall have
been shipped from the United states Of America |
Tor importation into France under reserve OF being
presented under the regular conditions hxed for |
Article The Protects Of the Departments are
commanded, each one in that which concerns him. |
10 put this law into execution
The secret OF the whole Introduction is just here
A few OF the leading cattle-raisers desire TO obtain
a higher price for French beef. that they can |
dispose Of their own stock adyantageously. dis
tnguished Frenchman stated 10 the writer I've |
all know that this decree is a simple pretext on
the part of the French Government. and one
thinks that II will last any longer than TO sell ad-
fact is, We know that the great mass of consum-
ers, that is two-thirds of the population OF France
Will not allow this state of affairs 10 last very
long"
There is curious fact well worth noting and
worthy or careful consideration namely. that the |
industries in the very sections that have cried
pendent upon their sales IN the United States The !
traveller who has crossed the Channel via Calais |
pIantduohs Ihat are along the railroad rom Paris
10 the sea These beets are raised for sugar which
Is exported to the United States 70 compete with |
american prOductS OF the same kind. In the centre
Cat Limoges NerzOn, etcD china is manufactured
20 per cent OF which f. exported 10 the United
States Wine is of the principal exports from
and II the laws OF the United States bearing on |
the importauons OF wines brandies, nqucurs cham
ousy excluded all impure and adulterated articles
of these kinds there would be but precious little
of these liquids brought into the United states.
1t seems very poor taste indeed for France at
this time to prohibit the importation Of any article
OF American origin. after the immense concessions
made In the Wilson bill (Which favors France more
from the French take The form OF the increased
duties on American wheat and the prohibition OF
the importation or American cattle.
rms is one or those severe cases Of selfish mo-
nopoly for which there only two specifics viz
a strong dose OF retaliation. or reciprocity ~
Paris. France, March 4. 1875. XVI
FREDERICK DOUGLASS'S CHURCH-GOING.
To the Editor OF The Tribune