The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-13
CONFIRMED BY WAR OFFICE
NEW PLAN APPLIES ONLY TO RE
FRIGERATED BEEF FOR
THE ARMY
WHAT WILSON HAS TO SAY
'Rnsensus of Opinion is That the
+ innovation, Even if Continued,
VIII but Slightly Affect
American Exports.

WASHINGTON, April 12.-The informa-
ton in the possession of the department
of agriculture regarding the British .Nov-
Frnment's S decision to buy only home
bred beef for its army supplies after June
! next consists of the advices from three
large packing houses in Chicago and the
press report from London confirmatory of
these advices. No official confirmation
has been received.
Among officials here there is No dasr
position to accredit the reasons that act
uated the new policy to any dissatistac-
ton with American meats. No objection
has been offered to American beef or beef
products on the score of their quality or
condition. The beef shipped from this
country to England for the use of the
British army, it Is stated. always mas
been of the best quality and uniformly IN
prime condition when delivered and dis
tributed. No complaint has been made
by the British authorities.
Secretary Hay has cabled to Ambas-
Bador Choate an inquiry into the reason
for the order of the British government,
measure which excludes the American
refrigerated beef heretofore used. This
action is taken at the instance of the
department of agriculture.
INTERVIEW WITH WILSON.
Secretary Wilson said today that every
thing the administration can do in the
matter is being done.
But, 1 cannot understand he said,
"why the British government has taken
this step. They know that our grain
fed beef is the kind that is shipped to
them. There must be some reason that is
not apparent on the surface We sell
them S1,G00,C00 worth of meats for every
100000 of their population Suppose they
in no fol- l.
make little difference to our producers
whether they take enough from the home
grown supply to feed the soldiers for.
If they do that, they must import just
that much more to supply the deficiency
The British do not produce enough in
Great Britain to supply their home de-
mands. There must be some other rea-
SON.
BRITISH EXPLANATION.
LONDON, April 12-The British war Of
fee confirms the report that it is going
10 try the experiment of supplying the
army with only home grown beef The
experiment will extend six months from
June 1.
The director of contracts, major, said
to representative of the Associated
Press:
''The. new rule applies only to refrig-
Grated beef, hitherto bought in the open
market at LONDON. 1t Will not seriously
affect the American trade. Mr. Brod-
rick's action was taken long before the
New Orleans proceedings. 1t is quite alb
surd to suppose that any idea of retalia-
ton prompted the o Ter, which was due
to natural desire to help some of the
home industries. The difference in price
is very tri1iing. and we are making that
up by giving Tommy Atkins frozen NUT
ton two days instead of one day weekly
If the plan is satisfactory, our supply
problem will be greatly simplfied, for we
often have complaints and disagreements
over refrigerated beef. You must not
suppose that we now use no homegrown
beef. AldershOt and some of our other
camps are almost entirely supplied with
homegrown beef. We have hitherto
used refrigerated beef as an addition to
our rations, rather than as an integral
part. We have no prejudice against
American firms and we do not believe
they will miss this trade to any extent.
even if it is decided to continue the ex-
pertinent