Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-26
WILL make PROTEST
Ambassador White Instructed to
Confer With German Authori.
ties on Meat Bill.
Exact Terms of the Measure Not
Known Will Affect the
Packers
And Indirectly the Farmers and
Stockmen-secretary Wilson
Gives His Views.

Washington, May Transformations
have been sent to Ambassador White at.
Berlin to make representations to the
German foreign Office With a View to
laying before that government the in-5
justice that will be done American
meats if the proposed legislation should
become law
The state department will not disclose
the American ambassador has not yet
had time to communicate them to the
German officials. They are more in the
nature of an appeal. however. than a
protest, and no threats of retaliation are
made as this government, according to
the diplomats, has no more rightto pro-
test against legislation in Germany than
officials of the German government have
to object to legislation by the American
congress affecting German interests.
AT the instance of the state Depart
ment Ambassador White will request
that the proposed law. which Will ex-
clude American as We'll as other meats.
be not put in opera ton for reasonable
time, 50 as 10 allow American packers
10 fulfill contracts already entered into
: This Was done at the reGuestof the Ghi-
cago packers. who will suffer great loss
if the proposed legislation should be-
come operative before the expiration OF
their contracts.
State department officials. the German
ambassador and the secretary OF agri-
culture do not Know exactly What the
terms of the bill are. and as To how tai
reaching its effects Will be. but the gen
eral supposition is 1t proposes to exclude
canned beef and sausage. rhs measure
has already passed the reichstag. is NON
being considered by tbs bunderath and
has been amended by that body. Baron
Won Holleben.s the German Ambassador
seems to be as much in the dark as to
the exact provisions of the bill as the
officials Of the administration, aud has
called at the state and agricultural de-
3partments to inquire as to its proyis-y
ions.
While the American government has
ample authority to retaliate against
German asAWell as other products. the
officials of the administration are not
publicly talking about retaliation at this
time, as it would be premature. and II
any steps in this direction We're tatsensit
might complicate matters by causing
4 the German government to make the
provisions of the proposed law more
stringent.
The secretary of agriculture is direct
ed by law 10 inspect food productions of
every description coming into this coun-
try from abroad. and il it is found they
contain anything injurious to health he
sauthorizsd to exc lude them. The sec
rotary of agriculture is now causing. all
ilnportations Of food products to be sub
jected to a rigid examination. and Will
continue to do 50. While this law says
nothing about retaliation 1t would be a
powerful weapon in the hands of the
government to force any nation to terms
Which should attempt to discriminate.
against American products on the
ground of impurity especially when it
is known that these products are all
that can be desired
Secretary Wilson said he had not re-
8ceived an appeal from packers in regard
to the proposed German legislation, but
he did have a letterson the subject from
one Of the packers.
We are doing all in our power. said
the secretary, TO protect the meat
packers, and have been doing so for
one and We have taken time by the
forelock and impressed upon the Ger
mans that our meats are the best initlle
world. Dr. Stiles of our department
spent more than a yeartn Berlin in the
interests of American meat. He told
the German government and the Amer
Jean ambassador the factsain regard to
our products of this kind He also told
them about the rigid examination 10
which our meat is subjected and gave
them other information which placed
the facts before them.
No one seems to know just what the
legislation now being considered Will
do. IT has passed the lower house Of
the German legislature, has beer
amended in the otnar pranen, and has
not yet become a Law. This question
has been pending for years, and there
is no occasion for becoming alarmed,
as it may yet fail of enactment.
NO, we have not yet thought of re-
taliation. That would be un-American
and We do not like to resort to such
measures. The time Sto talk about re-
taliation has not yet arrived. Before
we do so We. should find out exactly
what Germany will do
Is there d law which will enable
this government TO retaliate for dis
elimination against American food pro-
ducts?''
There is law" was the significan,
reply, which directs the secretary OF
agriculture to protect the health of the
people. Under the provisions of this
law he is compelled to examine all inn
portations of food products, and if they
Il are found to contain anything deieter-
ious to health is directed to exclude
them. This is now being done, and we
will continue to do so.
Much has been DONE continued the
secretary, ito place before the German
people the facts in regard to our meat
products. Some time ago number oil
Germans came to this country and Wis
tied the stock yards at Chicago They
saw that before cattle and hogs could
be killed they must be examined by ar
inspector Of the bureau of animal in.
dustry. They also saw, cattle and hogs
examined after being killed and saw fol
themselves what care. was taken tG
guard the health OF, those who were to
y consume the meat. They saw Chow
NJ RcrllnillOuslv clear the SLAUGHTER hons as