Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-04-17
The Controversy Between the United
States and Italy Made
Public.
The Italian Government Only Asks
for Justice tor Her Coun-
trymen.
Blaine Says He did not Guarantee
indemnify to the Families of
the Murdered Italians.


WASHINGTON, April l5.-Ihe corres-
pondence between Secretary Blaine and
the Italian government since the secreta-
rvs note to Marquis Imperial, acknowl-
edging the notice of Baron Fava's de-
parture, is given out tonight. In COM
munication of April I'd the italian gov
ernment says: 1.-The government of the
king Of Italy has asked nothing beyond
the prompt institution of judicial pro-
ceedings through the regular channels.
1t would have been absurd to claim pun
ishment of the guilty parties without Il
warrant of regular Judgment. The ltal-
ian government now repeats the same
demand. Not until the federal govern
ment shall have explicitly declared that
the aforesaid proceedings shall be
promptly begun can the diplomatic Incl
dent be considered as closed. Meanwhile
his majesty's government takes note of
the declaration whereby the federal gov
ernment recognizes that indemnity is
due to the families of the victims is Il
virtue of the treaty in force between the
two countries
DLAINE's REPLY.
Under date of April 18th, Blaine ex-
presses his satisfaction with the qualifi-
cation of RudiDi's demand, and on the in
demnlty says: "If Marquis Rudini will
carefully examine my note Of April 1st,
lo Il H.
that an indemnity is due to the families
of the victims by virtue of the treaty in
force between the two countries What
| did say was in answer to Baron Fava's
assertion that the United States go, ern-
ment refused to take this demand for an
indemnity into consideration. Marquis
Rudini may be assured that the United
States would recompense every italian
subject who might ''be wronSed by the
violation of a treaty" to which the faith
of the United states is pledged. But
this assurance leaves unsettled the
important question whether the treaty
has been violated. Upon this point, the
president, with sufficient facts placed
before him, has taken full time for de-
cision. He now directs that certain
considerations in the general subject be
submitted to the Judgment of the
italian government" The secretary
then cites the action i previous similar
cases and continues: ''As promptly as pos
sible after the lamentable occurrence at
New Orleans, the president directed the
attorney general to cause through his
department a full inquiry to be made
into all facts connected Herewith and
solicited his opinion whether any criminal
proceedings would lie Under the federal
laws in the federal courts against the
persons charged with the killing of the
italian subjects. He has not yet re-
ceived the official report. If it be found
that prosecution can be obtained under
the statutes of the United States, case
will be presented to the next grand jury,
according to the usual methods of the
criminal administration. But if it shall
be found, as seems probable, that crimi-
nal proceeding can only be taken in the
courts of Louisiana, the president
can in this direction do no
more than to urge upon the
state officers the duty of promptly
bringing the offenders to trial. This was
done in his telegram to the governor of
Louisiana as carly as the 18th of March.
If it shall result that the case can be
prosecuted only in the state courts of
Louisiana, and the usual judicial investi-
CATION and procedure under the criminal
law is not resorted to, it will then be the
duty of the United States to consider
whether some other form of redress may
be asked. It is understood that the state
grand jury is now investigating the af.
fair, and, while it is possible the jury
may fail to present indictments, the
United States cannot assume that such
will be the case. The United States did
not by treaty with Italy become an in
surer of the lives or property of italian
subjects resident within our territory. No
government is able, however high its civ
ilization, however vigilant its police SUI
peryision, however severe it's criminal
code and how ever prompt and inhex BILE
it's criminal administration, to secure its
own citizens against violence promoted
by Individual malice 6 }hy sudden popu-
lar tumult. Foreign npts must be