Mr. Grubb to Mr. Blaine.
Madrid, May 5, 1892. (Received May 20.)
Sir: On several occasions since my last dispatch to you regarding the prohibition on American pork, I have inquired of the Duke of Tetuan when the report of the medical committee having the matter in charge might be expected, and last Saturday, April 30, I received information from a private source that the report had been prepared and was adverse to our interests. I obtained an interview on that same afternoon with the Duke of Tetuan, and he informed me that the report was adverse. I told him that I must decline to accept such a report, which I felt sure must have been made from an entirely ex parte statement, and asked his permission for an interview with Mr. Canovas upon the subject, which he immediately granted me, and for which I at once applied by note.
It happened that I had been invited, with my family, to breakfast with Mr. Canovas at his house on Monday, the 2d of May, and after breakfast, in his library, I took occasion to broach the subject to him informally, and without mentioning my knowledge of the report of the committee, of which he did not seem to be aware. I had time and opportunity for a somewhat lengthy conversation upon the subject, and left him, I believe, considerably impressed with our views upon the matter.
On Wednesday, May 4, I received a note from Mr. Canovas, appointing an interview at his house on the 5th of May, at 1:30 p.m., at which time and place he received me, and I had a very long and, I feel, satisfactory interview with him on the subject. I went over the arguments on our side carefully and at length; dwelt strongly upon the injustice of the prohibition, not only regarding the unfriendly act in itself, but of its injustice in view of the action of other countries in rescinding it, and also of the monstrous incongruity which Spain shows in allowing the importation of our pork to her colonies and prohibiting it to the peninsular. I also showed him the proofs I had obtained that American pork was brought into Spain and sold here, coming from England.
Mr. Canovas heard all I had to say, and carefully and attentively listened to my presentation of the matter. He then said that he was [Page 493] aware that the medical committee had reported adversely to the sanitary condition of our pork, but “that he did not intend to receive that report as final, that he would take the matter up himself,” “acquaint himself thoroughly with it,” and that “he believed and hoped that the result would be satisfactory to us.”
The interview then terminated, and I feel confident that the matter is in a very favorable condition.
The prohibition which has just been placed by England upon Spanish beef is inopportune for us, as the Spanish farmer is a very considerable factor in the solution of this matter.
I have the honor, etc.,