The Acting Secretary of State to the American Embassy.
Washington, November 5, 1906.
(Mr. Bacon acknowledges embassy’s telegram of October 25 and says that the Italian embassy notified department on September 13th that thenceforth preserved American pork must be accompanied by certificates attesting microscopic inspection. Informs the embassy that Department of Agriculture has discontinued all microscopic inspections and is not prepared under present regulations to resume such inspections or to issue so-called purple certificates attesting the fact of microscopic examination, and that Germany no longer requires [Page 961] American microscopic inspection. Adds that the Department of Agriculture is prepared to issue upon request of the exporters uniform certificates, so-called white certificates, contemplated by inspection law of 1906, attesting that “the animals from which said products came were free from disease, and that the meat and meat-food products thereof are sound, healthful, and wholesome, and were prepared and handled according to the sanitary regulations of the department.” In view of peril to large meat contracts and future trade, instructs to explain situation to Italian Government and seek assurance that American pork products accompanied by new certificates as above described will be admitted, and to report decision by cable.)