Philip Armour, the great “pork man” of Chicago, says that the French edict prohibiting the importation of American pork was originated by the wily minister of commerce, who was seeking popularity and knew very well that the slandered meat was not diseased. The action was urged by the French protectionists, who, says Mr. Armour, had been long waiting for a pretext which the discussion of trichinosis by our newspapers furnished. American packers were taken entirely by surprise, and hog products were depressed for several months. A large fund of money was raised in the States and sent to France in competent hands, but though it was used discreetly the law is still unrepealed, and not a pound of American pork is shipped to France. It is, however, thought probable that a law providing for an inspection similar to the official examination of meats exported to Germany will be substituted for the prohibitory edict.
Morning Journal and Courier, New Haven, CT, March 30, 1882