§ Mr. BOWERMANasked on what date the Argentine Government officially declared that country to be free from foot-and-mouth disease; what steps the Board have taken during the meantime to verify such declaration; and what is the reason of the Board's delay in acceding to the request of the Argentine Government that they should be permitted to export live cattle to this country for slaughter?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe declaration to which my hon. Friend refers was dated 25th August last. It was made officially by the Argentine Government, and the Board took no steps to verify it. The freedom of a country from disease at any given time is not however the only consideration which the Board are required to take into account in considering whether or not the importation of animals into this country should be permitted, and in view, inter alia, of the past history of foot-and-mouth disease in Argentina, and of its geographical position in relation to other countries in which the disease was known to exist, the Board did not feel justified in withdrawing the existing prohibition.
§ Mr. BOWERMANasked whether the two provinces in Argentina in which it was stated that an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has quite recently occurred were not far removed from the ports of embarkation of cattle for this country; and, if so, whether the placing of a cordon round the two affected districts, as was done to the satisfaction of the Board in the case of a recent outbreak in North America, would meet the requirements of the Board, so that cattle from districts free from disease may at once be brought into this country for slaughter?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYOur information as regards the locality of the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Argentina is of a very general character, but we know that the disease exists in the territory of Chaco and in the zone north of Santa Fé, as well as in the two provinces of Corrientes and Entre Rios. The southern portion of the last-named province is not more than forty or fifty miles from Buenos Ayres. In any case, however, there is no likelihood that the Board 1184 would be able to accept the arrangement suggested as affording sufficient security against the introduction of diseased animals into this country.
§ Mr. BOWERMANIs it not the case that in North America when an outbreak occurs this system of drawing a cordon is adopted, and, if so, is there any special reason why it should not be adopted here?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe conditions are so different.
§ Mr. WALTER LONGDuring the period in this country, when there were no regulations such as those which now exist, epidemics occurred abroad, and was it not invariably the case that the disease was introduced here, it being found impossible to prevent its introduction owing to the fact that once it comes in it spreads with the utmost rapidity, and no regulations which are imposed can humanly prevent the spread of the disease?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYYes, Sir.
§ Mr. HAMILTON BENNIs it not the fact that the period of incubation in this disease is fourteen days, and that the voyage from South America is about a month, so that there can be no doubt about the disease being discovered if it exists among the cattle in the ship?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI think the hon. Member has stated the conditions correctly, but they are no safeguards.