The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-12

WASHINGTON, April 11.-[Speciall =
twas impossible to secure any informa-
ton that tended to confirm the report
from Rome that the Italian government
was about to give Minister Porter his
passports and sever diplomatic negotia-
tons unless it received to-day an an
swer from Secretary Blaine to Premier
Rudini's last note. Secretary Blaine
declined to make any statement touch
ing the matter and was not ready to
give out for publication the correspond
ence, which has taken place since his
first letter was sent to Marquis Imper-
iali, commenting upon Baron Fa vas de-
parturo. Still in all this official silence
it is easy to detect disposition to dis
credit the last Rome story and this was
forestailed in yesterdays dispatches.
There is strong circumstantial evil
dcnce tending to show that there is no
warrant for such threat on the part of
the Italian government and that if it has
been made it was by misund Outstanding
Undoubtedly at this juncture, the fact
that Italy is without a fully authorized
diplomatic representative atNVashington
tends to complicato negotiations between
tho two governments and breed misun-
derstandings. In a few moments con-
yersation it would be possible for the
Secretary of State to make So tisfactory
explanation to the foreign minister of
what would otherwise appear to be an
unreasonable delay in carrying forward
negotiations.
Marquis Imperiali, however, is an i'm :
personal figure in the controversy. Tho
Secretary may direct his notes to him,
but he cannot reply personally, nor in
tervene with suggestion. lie can sim
ply transmit notes passing between
Italy and the United States. 1t is sug-
gested that Secretary Blaine may be
dissatisfied with the cumbersome way
of corresponding at second hand, and
has already availed himself of a moro
direct method of comm VI MICA ton afford
cd by the presence of tho American
minister in Rome. 1t is certain that
Minister Porter has boon fully informed
of the attitude of the State Department.,
and that he has already interposcd with
the Italian government by direction of
the Department with good results in ex-
PLANTATION Of American methods of iuris-
prudence.
Whether Secretary Blaine's reply to
Marquis RudiniS notc-for Il reply was
writtcn-has yet reached the Italian
rrO Fnr.rr L., Il.
means of communication, is not known
here. But recurrence to the conclud-
ing paragraphs Of the secretary's note
to Marquis. Imperiali contains satisfac-
tory evidence Of the fact that the gov
ernment of the United States will pro-
coed in dignificd manner, avoiding
undue haste III the treatment of sub
ject of such gravity as that involved,
awaiting reports OF its own officers as to
the exact facts of the New Orleans
tragedy, and totally unmoved by threats
and prOtestatiOnS from any source.
Secretary Blaine was indisposcd to-
day andwas confined to his room by an
attack of his old malady, govt. In tho
course Of the afternoon the President
walked over from the White House and
consulted with the Secretary respecting
diplomatic matters that may require
action during the Presidents absence
from Washington. 1t is now a matter
Of positive knowledge that the Italian
government has not sent to this Gov
eminent or any Of it's representatives. a
notification that reply is expected to
Marquis Rudini's last note within a
specified timo. 1t is not customary in
diplomacy for any nation to undertake
to dictate the date of correspondence
Italy adopted this course it would GER
tainly BIO regarded with umbrage by our
own Government and would excite
great surprise among diplomats of other
nations, whose customs are regulated by
an unwritten but most immutable law
AS stated in diplomatic and courteous
phraseology in Secretary Blaine's letter
to Marquis Imperiali the government of
the United States proposes to deal with
the questions at issue earnestly, but
with caution and deliberation. A neces-
sary preliminary to the disposition of
the New Orleans matter is reliable
official statement OF the nationality of
the victims and their records in this
country and in Italy. An abstract of
Rudini's note telegraphed from Rome
Indicated that the premier was willing
to take into consideration evidence on
the latter point. This evidence has not
yet been collected. Officers under con-
troll OF the Department of Justice are
still at work in New Orleans, and their
reports have not reached the Attorney
General, by whom they must be submit
ted to Secretary Blaine.
But the Department of State is not
contenting itself with specific inquiry
into the history of the antccedents of
the New Orleans victims. 1t proposes
TO show the Italian government the OK