93

A.—2

As regards Copenhagen, which would, of course, be the principal, if not the only port of entry, there is a municipal regulation, copy of which I have the honour to enclose, whereby the carcases must be accompanied by the organs of the same, either fresh or refrigerated. I understand that exceptions to this requirement are made in the case of meat sent to the capital from towns possessing public slaughterhouses, from communes with an approved meat control, and from export slaughterhouses (see law of 13th May, 1911, sections 1, 2, and 3, enclosed in Sir C. Greene's No. 40, Commercial, of 6th July, 1911). It is not impossible, therefore, that if the Department of Agriculture were to express their approval of the regulations, certificates, &c, accompanying meat imported from British possessions in the manner described above, the Municipality of Copenhagen might be willing to treat such meat as fulfilling the requirements of the law of 13th May, 1911, and waive the necessity for the carcases to be accompanied by the organs. As regards the general question of how farjit would be worth while to export animal products into" Denmark, which is itself an agricultural country, opinions appear to differ. On the one hand, I have heard it stated that there is little demand in Denmark for large carcases of beef, small lean animals being preferred ; nor much demand for mutton ; the principal forms of meat in use being veal, pork, bacon, lamb, and, among the poorest classes, horseflesh. Moreover, it is asserted that to send meat to a meat-producing country would be to court failure. On the other hand, I have been assured that, although Denmark is, of course, a meat-producing country, yet she exports her whole production of first-quality meat, with the result that, whereas the farmer is thereby tolerably sure of getting a good price for his stock, the townsman is obliged to content himself with second-quality meat, and pay a dear price for that. The townsman might, therefore, be assumed to be likely to welcome the importation of foreign first-quality meat if the latter could be sold at a reasonable rate, and be approved by the local authorities as sound and recommendable. Lastly, there is the question of storage to be considered. I understand that for the moment there is not much cold-storage available in Copenhagen, although what there is at the municipal slaughterhouse would, no doubt, be sufficient for an experimental delivery. I presume, however, that if the meat thus imported should find a ready and profitable sale, there would be no difficulty in increasing he existing accommodation. I have, &c, Conyngham Greene. Sir Edward Grey, Bart, M.P., &c. Translation of Section 6 of Section 32 of a Municipal Regulation respecting the Importation of Meat into the Town of Copenhagen. From the date of the opening of the slaughterhouse (since opened) at the inspection of imported meat of large cattle, calves, sheep, goats, lambs, and swine, the lungs, heart, liver and kidneys must be naturally attached to that portion of the carcase to which they belong. The head, tongue, milt, and (in the case of female animals) the womb must accompany the carcase.

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and, by direction of the Secretary of State, transmits herewith copy of the undermentioned paper. Foreign Office, 10th August, 1911.

[Similar letter sent to Board of Trade.] Sir,— Mexico, 17th July, 1911. In reply to your circular despatch of 1st June ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch which has reached me from the British Vice-Consul at Guaymas, concerning the imports into Mexico through that port of articles produced in British colonies. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. T. B. Hohler.

• Mr. Vice-Consul Heap to Mr. Hohler. Guaymas, 6th July, 1911. Referring to your circular, No. 159, dated 27th June last, and to the copy of the despatch, No. 35, of His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires, I have the honour to inform you that no food products are exported through the Port of Guaymas to Mexico by the self-governing dominions and British colonies except very occasionally a small quantity of flour and wheat from British Columbia. Australian exports to Sonora are limited to coal, the yearly average being about 15,000 tons in British ships. J. A. Heap, British Vice-Consul, Guaymas, Sonora.

Name and Date. Subject. ..M. representative at Mexico, 17th July, 1911 Import of foodstuffs into Mexico.