The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-02-26
EUSTS WILL PROTEST
Against the Decree Excluding Our
Cattle from France.
THE REASON ASSIGNED A PRETENsE

The Charge That American Cattle Arc
Unhealthy Has No Foundation in Fact,
and Our Ambassador viii Call for Proof
of the Facts Alleged.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 26.-Mr. Eustis, our
ambassador to France. will be instructed
to enter a prompt and vigorous protest
against the French decree, Just made, eX-
Guiding American cattle from France. AS
the decree Is ostensibly based on the exist
ence of pleuro- pnoumonia and Texas
fever in cattle coming from the United
States the ambassador will call for proof
of the fact. That will mean long and tedi-
Gus expert examinations by veterinarians,
and much correspondence, which Is not
expected to be Of any more avail than that
into which Mr., Runyon, our ambassador
to Germany, was plunged by the issue OF
similar decree by the German govern
mont, for 1t Is fully realized here that the
allegation that American cattle are I'M
healthy is tho morest pretense In both
cases, and that the real reason Is fear OF
American competition.
In the case of France the press cable dis
patches have shown that the ministry has
been urged to the issue Of the decree by
delegation after delegation representing
the numerous and well organized agricul-
tural societies Of the republic, solely for
their protection against the American
cattle grower In order to grant the de-
mand, and yet Mt the same time to avoid
the charge that France was violating the
most favored nation clause in Its treaty
with the United States which would
properly lie il the latter were singled ont
from other nations for an attack of this
kind, 1t was necessary that recourse should
be had to tho Device which had awaited
Germany so WELL of charging unhealth-
fulncss upon American cattle. This
charge is always hard to rebuff, owing to
the cnsc with which expert testimony may
be had on either side of the case.
The American trade in cattle with
France has grown to considerable proper
tions, the shipments during the six
months ended Dec. 81 last being 13,44l
head, and during the month of January
last S0l head.
Secretary Morton was careful about ex-
pressing his opinion touching the French
decree, but it could be seen that he re-
garded it, as II mere political manifesto
ton and felt that it would not be Gontin-
ned in force for any considerable length OF
time, and that the next change In the
French cabinet would probably be followed
by the revocation of the decree. Notwith-
standing TINS, inc DcllcI is growing anu
deepening here that these DEGREES are but
forcrunncrs of other and moro severe re-
strictions upon American trade, the next
blow, perhaps, being likely to fall upon
wheat. it is understood here that these
are not adopted as retaliatory measures,
but are manifestations of the growth of
the protective sentiment in continental
Europe, and grow out Of the necessity the
governments arc under of conceding some
thing to the great agricultural classes
Touching the allegation of the existence
of disease among American cattle Secre-
tary Morton says that there has not been
one case of pleuro pneumonia in the United
States during the past three years, and
that even il there had been cattle suffer
ing from Texas fever among the carefully
inspected herds shipped to Europe, the dis
ease, being non-contagious, could do no
harm there.