The Lamar register., 1891-04-18
THE ITALIAN CONTROVERSY.
Correspondence Between Secretary
Blaine and the Italian
Government.

Upon the withdrawal from Wash
ingtou Of Baron Fava Mr. Blaine sent q
note to the officer remaining as Itaiy's
representative in which be set the Italian
government right on one or two points In
which he had been misunderstood. In
reply to this Rudinl. the Italian prime
minister, sent the following on April End
The government Of the King OF Italy
has asked nothing beyond the prompt
institution.o of judicial proceedings through
the regular channels. II would have hoen
absurd to demand the punishment OF the
guilty parties without the warrant OF
reguiar Judgment Tho Itasian govern
meat repeats the same demand. Not until
the federal government shall have eS-
plieitly declared that the aforesaid pro
ceedings shall be promptly begun can the
diplomatic Incident be considered as
closed. Meanwhile his maiesty's govern
ment takes note Of the declaration where
by the federal government recognizes that
an indemnity is due to the families OF the
victims in virtue Of the treaty in force
between the two countries"
s-ln replying To this, Secretary Blaine
called attention 10 the fact that at first
Italy had made more urgent demands for
immediate punishment Of the mob with
out saying anything about the process OF
law.
Regarding the latter part of kndints
note, Mr.. Blaine said:
''If the Marquis Rudini will carefully
examine NY note OF April !, he will dis
cover that did not recognize that an in-
demnity IS due to the families of the
victims by virtue OF the treaty in force be
tween the two countries. What did say
was in answer to Baron Favas assertion
that the United States government
refused to take this demand for indemnity
into consideration. quote my reply;
THE United States, so far from refas-
ing, has distinctly recognized the principle
of indemnity TO those Italian subjects triio
may hare been trnonced by violation OF
the rights secured to them under the
treaty with the United States concluded
February 26, 1871
THE Marquis Di Rudini may be assured
that the United States will rccompense
every Italian subject who may be wrouged
by violation of a treaty TO which the
faith Of the United States is pledged But
this assurance leaves unsettled the i'm
portant question whether the treaty has
been violated
MIR. Blaine goes GU 10 reciie at some
length a similar case which occurred forty
years ago, and the position taken at that
time by Daniel Webster. In conclusion
he says
''If it should appear that among those
killed by the mob at New Orleans there
were some Italian subjects who were
domiciled in that city agreeable with
our treaty with Italy and not in violation
of laws and who were abiding in the peace
OF the United States and obeying the laws
thereof and of the state of louisiana, and
that the public officers charged with the
duty of protecting life and property in tha,
city connived gt the work Of the mob or
under proper notice or information Of the
threatened danger, failed TO take any
steps for the preservation OF the public
peace and afterwards to bring the guilty
TO trial, the President would. under such
circumstances, feel that case was estab-
lished that should be submitted to the
consideration of Congress with = view To
the relief of the families OF the Italian
subjects who had lost their lives by law
less violence.