Los Angeles herald., 1891-04-03
3laine's letter, sent him yesterday even

Blaine's letter, sent him yesterday even
ing.
| Among the first callers on the secre-
tary today were the British minister and
Sir Charles Tupper, of Canada, who
talked with the secretary an hour, pre-
sumably about the seal fisheries, reci-
procity ,and other matters foremostin the
minds Of the Canadians.
ITALY BACKING DOWN.
The Marquis Imperiali was seen late
this evening, but was not prepared to
make any statement as to the latest
phase OF the Italian affair. He has not
yet transmitted Marquis di Rudini's
latest message to Secretary Blaine, but
expects to do 30 in short time.
1t was said, tonight. that the message
| of Marquis Rudini (the substance Of
which was given in an Associated Press
dispatch from Rome), clears the situa-
ton to some extent and opens the way
| for the establishment of the former
amicable relations between the two gov
ernments, if Italy does not intend to
carry the matter to the last extremity.
The tone OF the message would indicate
that the representations of the attitude
Of the United States made in Secretary
Blaine's letter the Marquis Impe-
riali, and the explanations of the status
of affairs which, it is presumed, Minis.
ter Porter made to the Italian foreign
Office, have been we'll received by the
Italian ministry, and that Italy was dis
posed to await the regular and orderly
procedure of the judicial institutions Of
this country.
BLAINE's LETTER COMMENDED.
Secretary Blaine's letter to the Mar
quis Imperiali is very strongly COM
mended by men of all shades of politics,
here, and the opinion is widely ex-
pressed that it will bring the Italian
government to calmer consideration of
the matter.
There is considerable public indigna-
ton expressed at the attitude taken in
the matter by Italian-Americans who
have long been citizens of the United
States, and are now taking side with
the Italian government, and demanding
satisfaction. There is a feeling that if
these men are American citizens, and
have taken the oath of allegiance to the
United States, they are no longer SUBJ
jects of Italy, whose duty it is to take up
arms IN her defense.
ITALY's GAME OF BLUFF.
Ex- Ex-Representative Farquhar, OF New
York, speaking of the correspondence
published this morning, said he believed
Blaine's letter would appeal to the good
sense of every foreign nation. He said
'1taly does not want war. She wants
to bluff us out. Secretary Tracy should
now send a letter, a circular letter, to
contractors who are engaged in con-
structing naval vessels, ordering them
to hurry up the work of completing the
vessels as quickly as possible at the
governments risk for damages and ex-
ira expense. This mere indication that
we were ready to prepare for anything
Italy might be disposed to do, that we
did not intend to yield when we were
in the right, would put an end to Italy's
demonstrations"
OUR OBLIGATION TO ITALY.
The Post says: Article 'twenty-one of
the treaty between the United States
and Italy allows six months to mer-
chants in the ports of each country, and
one year to dwellers in the interior to
arrange their affairs. All the occupants
OF unfortified towns, whose occupations
are for common subsistence and the
benefit of mankind, shall not be mo-
Tested, and whatever may be taken from
them for the use OF belligerents shall be
paid for at reasonable price. This
article, which is generally not known to
exist, expressly stipulates that its pro-
visions shall be sacredly observed in
war.
The Post will say tomorrow 1t is
held by quite number of international
lawyers that the right of the federal
government to negotiate treaties carries
with it the power to carry out treaty
stipulations, even if by so doing it ap-
pears to override state authority. Con-
gress, when it convenes, will probably
enact a law to designate how the federal
government shall act in difficulty like
the present.
PROTECTION TO FOREIGNERS.
The apparent inability of the United
States to actually extend to foreigners
the protection which is guaranteed in
treaties in case outrage is committed for
which the state is responsible, has led
to considerable talk in diplomatic cir
cles. 1t was suggested that congress
might have to change the methods of
negotiating treaties, but when this view
was presented to x-Representative Gros-
venor, he replied that no change was
necessary. ''The United States" he
said, "can always be trusted to do what
is honest and right. We need not go to
the extent of revising all our methods
for the sake of pleasing countries which
annually send large numbers of their
people to our shores"
General Grosvenor added that if the
governor had any right to interfere in
matter like the Italian tragedy, then it
had an equal right to interfere in every
case where massacre of negroes for
political reasons occurs in the south
during federal election. "The Italian
government" said he, "must surely
realize that if the national government
cannot protect the lives of its own citi- !
zens or interfere to punish their MUIR
derers, it cannot do so for foreigners.
FOREIGN COMMENT.