No. 33.] [Inclosure 2 in No. 66.] Mr. Risley to Baron Thott. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Copenhagen, October 24, 1894. EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to receive your highly esteemed note of the 22d instant relating to the recent disastrous expedition of Dr. Frederick A. Cook, of Brooklyn, and party to Greenland, and will without delay communicate a copy of it to my Government. I would thank you very much if you would kindly cause to be sent to me a copy of the royal ordinance of 18th of March, 1776, to which you refer. I will have it translated and will bring it to the attention of my Government, to the end that in the future proper steps may be taken as far as may be to prevent unauthorized expeditions similar to that above referred to. With the highest consideration, etc., JOHN E. RISLEY PROHIBITION OF AMERICAN CATTLE. Mr. Risley to Mr. Gresham. [Telegram.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Copenhagen, November 21, 1894. To prevent Texas fever, now prevailing in America, importation of live cattle or fresh meat from that country is prohibited' in Denmark. Does the disease exist? I have protested. Mr. Risley to Mr. Gresham. RISLEY. No. 69.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Copenhagen, November 21, 1894. (Received December 3.) SIR: I have just cabled you as follows: GRESHAM, Washington: To prevent Texas fever, now prevailing in America, importation of live cattle or fresh meat from that country is prohibited in Denmark. Does the disease exist? I have protested. RISLEY. In the Berlinke, the official newspaper published in this city, there appeared yesterday a decree to prevent the importation into Denmark of live cattle or fresh meat from America. I inclose a printed copy, with a translation. I had an interview to-day with Mr. Vedel, the director-general of the ministry of foreign affairs, on the subject, in which I inquired upon what ground the decree was based. He replied that such decrees were issued by the minister of the interior without consultation with the minister of foreign affairs. He did not know upon what information the minister had acted, but presumed he had merely followed the similar action of Germany and Sweden, as that was the usual course, so as to prevent those countries from prohibiting the shipment of cattle and meat from Denmark to them, shipments of that kind to those countries being very large and important to Denmark. I then stated I had no official information as to whether or not the Texas fever prevailed in the United States, but had seen denials of it in the American newspapers, and had seen charges that Germany had taken the action referred to, in the nature of a retaliation for the tariff imposed on her sugar, and I supposed Sweden had merely followed the lead of Germany. He said he was surprised to hear that there was any question of the prevalence of the disease in America. I then called attention to the peculiar phraseology of the decree. It seemed to imply that the decree of 1879 had remained in force until superseded by the present one, and that during all those years it had been unlawful to import from the United States either live horned cattle or fresh meat from them; that the late decree seemed to be more comprehensive than the former one, in that it omitted the word "horned" and used the word cattle (kvaeg in Danish), which might include sheep and hogs. He thereupon carefully read the decree, and said the plain inference was as I said-it had been unlawful since 1879 to import the said articles, though he was surprised to see that it was so. He also said that the recent decree certainly was of wider scope than the former one, and that by its terms it certainly did include sheep and swine. He then suggested that I write them an official note, inviting attention to these points, and they would confer with the minister of the inte rior, and then reply. I answered that I would first cable to you and officially ascertain how the fact was as to the prevalence of the disease, and when I had your answer I would write to them, as suggested, and would bring up the whole question. It will be observed that the prohibition does not apply to meats which arrive in hermetically-closed cans. The matter may have additional importance because on the 9th instant the free port of Copenhagen was opened to the commerce of the world and considerable efforts have been used to make it known. It may well be that the great advantages of the free port may have induced, or may hereafter induce, large shipments of cattle or meat from America. I use the term America as the Danes do, as being synony mous with the United States. It will give me much pleasure to carry out any instructions you may honor me with in the matter. I have, etc., Mr. Uhl to Mr. Risley. JOHN E. RISLEY No. 52.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I append a copy of your telegram of the 21st instant, in relation to the prohibition of the importation of live cattle and fresh meat from the United States into Denmark. In this connection I inclose herewith copies of the telegrams concerning a similar action by Germany, which were sent to the United States ambassador at Berlin on the 27th and 31st ultimo. I am, sir, your obedient servant, EDWIN F. UHL, Acting Secretary. No. 6.] DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. ATTACK ON AMERICAN SCHOONER HENRY CROSBY. Mr. Smythe to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, January 22, 1894. (Received January 29.) SIR: I iuclose herewith the testimony forwarded to me by Consul Meade relating to the incident at Azua. This shows the affair practically as reported to me by the commander of the Kearsarge, and is the only official intelligence I have received except the brief dispatch which I forwarded to you. It seems right to consider, first, that the vessel was anchored at a closed port; second, that the whole country side was in arms trying to apprehend or prevent the escape of the parties who had assassinated the governor of the province; and third, that the mate, instead of proceeding boldly to the shore and making inquiries as soon as he saw a few men with arms in their hands, turned the bow of his boat to the vessel and retreated; thus confirming the suspicions of the ignorant soldiery in the belief that the vessel was either concerned in the uprising, or was there (in a closed port) to carry away the assassins of the governor. I have unofficial information that the mate is well and the seaman, Smith (who, it seems, is Swede), is recovering rapidly. I have, etc., HENRY M. SMYTHE. P. S.—I have just learned that it will be impossible to copy the evidence, etc., for this mail, and hence I send this dispatch to give the Department an idea of the situation. My opinion is that no discourtesy was intended to our flag, but think a reasonable indemnity should be demanded for the wounded sailors, unless the circumstances debar them from remuneration. The papers will follow in next mail, and can then be connected with this dispatch. Very truly, etc., HENRY M. SMYTHE. [Inclosure 1 in No. 6.] No. 12.] Mr. Meade to Mr. Smythe. CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I inclose you herewith copies of the depositions of the master, mate, and sailor (with accompanying medical certificate) of the American schooner Henry Crosby, who were connected with the recent shooting affair at Azua, and an account of which has been telegraphed you, as received from Consular Agent Hardy at that port. I have, etc., JOHN R. MEADE, U. S. Consul. No. 71.] [Inclosure 2 in No. 6.] Mr. Hardy to Mr. Meade. U. S. CONSULAR AGENCY, Azua, December 26, 1893. SIR: Your dispatch, No. 2, dated December 16, received and contents noted. According to instructions, I inclose copy of depositions made at this consular agency by A. F. Stubbs, master; William H. Brooks, first mate; and Charles Smith, seaman, all belonging to the American schooner Henry Crosby, now lying at this place, the originals of said depositions being entered and sworn to in the record books in this office. I also inclose certificate of medical attendant regarding nature of wound received by the above-named Charles Smith on the 10th day of Decem ber last. You will observe that there is an unimportant addition to the captain's declaration. This was added at the request of the authorities here, who desired Captain Stubbs to sign a declaration drawn up by them which did not recognize the fact of the vessel's national flag being displayed. To avoid dispute, I advised Captain Stubbs to send a copy of his declaration in the consular agency, which was done in the form inclosed, in explanation of the Dominican Government's wish that the master certify to the fact that he was anchored outside the limits of any port. I may mention that Azua and Barahona are the only two ports in this section where foreign vessels are allowed to anchor unless under special permit from the Government. Captain Stubbs was misled by the information he received in New York regarding the situation of Azua, and it is to be regretted that he did not provide himself with an United States hydrographic chart of 1886, or sailing directions from the same office, published in 1892, before leaving New York. The arrival of the Henry Crosby occurred while the country was in a state of unrest. The governor-general of the province and Bara Huna having been assassinated on the Sunday previous, the whole population was under arms to prevent the escape of the murderers, and by some error the authorities here were advised that the vessel reported at anchor on the coast was from Barahona; hence the dispatch of an armed force to watch her motions. Of course a moment's consideration ought to have convinced the authorities that a vessel engaged in any illegal enterprise would hardly anchor in the middle of the day and remain twenty-seven hours within rifle shot of the beach with her colors flying. In any case the dispatch of an armed force in a boat, as afterward was done, would resolve any suspicions that existed. The seaman, Charles Smith, is progressing favorably. I remain, etc., JOHN HARDY, [Inclosure 3 in No. 6.] U. S. CONSULAR AGENCY, Be it known that on the 22d day of December, 1893, personally appeared before me John Hardy, consular agent of the United States of America for the port of Azua, William H. Brooks, chief officer of the American schooner Henry Crosby, who maketh the following declaration and answers under oath: That the said William H. Brooks is an American citizen with residence in Rockland, Me.; that he has been attached to the American schooner Henry Crosby upward of one year; that he left New York in the said schooner in the capacity of mate on the 24th day of November last. That on the 10th day of December, while the vessel was lying at anchor off what was supposed to be the port of Azua at 11:30 a. m., he received an order from A. J. Stubbs, the master of the vessel, to take two seamen in the small boat to ascertain if the vessel was really in the port of Azua, with the additional order not to land; that in obeying these instructions the boat was taken within hailing distance of the shore, where two men were observed and the question asked, "Is this the port of Azua?" Understanding them to give an affirmative answer and further alarmed by the sudden appearance of a large body of armed men, the order was given to pull back to the vessel; immediately the men on the beach opened fire on the boat, great numbers of bullets falling near to and passing through the planking of the boat, one of the latter striking him, the deponent, on the hip, and for the moment disabling him. That up to the time of the firing no intimation which he could understand had been given him that he was desired to land; consequently he carried out the orders given by the master of the vessel, and seated with his back to the shore he was unable to see the soldiers making ready to fire, and with the first volley he became disabled. After a time, finding that one of his boat's crew was dangerously wounded and the other in hiding, by a great effort he took to the oars in the endeavor to get the boat out of range or on the other side of the vessel. In this he succeeded. That he further declares that the schooner Henry Crosby held no other communication with the shore from the time of his leaving New York, and that during the time of the vessel lying at anchor off the Boca de Jura, the national flag was displayed from sunrise to sunset, and that at the time of the firing the flag on the ship was plainly discernible. To the above declaration the said William H. Brooks subscribes his name and maketh oath the day and date above written. WM. H. BROOKS. This declaration made and sworn to before me this 22d day of December, 1893. JOHN HARDY, U. S. CONSULAR AGENCY, I, John Hardy, consular agent of the United States of America, do hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original on the record book of this agency. Given under my hand and seal the day, month, and year mentioned. JOHN HARDY, U. S. Consular Agent. FR 9414 |