The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-02
ONLY A WAR OF WORDS
The Impending Rupture With Italy
Not Likely to be More
Serious.
Detailed Correspondence Between
Baron Fava and Secretary
Blaine.

Blaine.
Minister Porter's Action at Hum
berts Capital.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-The following
correspondence between Secretary Blaine
and Baron Fava is made public by the do
partment of state to night:
"KoYAL LEGATION OF ITALY, WASHINGTON
March 81, 1891-Mr. Secretary of State: BY
my two notes, 18th and 18th instants, had
the honor to call your excellency's serious
attention to occurrences of exceptional
gravity which took place at NeY Orleans or
the 18th, whereby four subjects of the kine
of Italy. who were confined in the prison OF
that city. were massacred by crowd under
the leadership of two American citizens
After having formally protested against tht
unjustifable conduct of local authorities
which were evidently recreant to all theil
duties on that occasion, l reserved to the
government of his majesty the right to de-
think proper, since the occurrences in
question constituted patent violation OF
the treaty in force between our two coun-
tries, which secures to Italian subjects re-
siding in the United States the same
protection enjoyed by American citizens
and which has always been extended to the
latter in Italian territory. The reparation
demanded by the government of the king,
as have had the honor to inform you in
our interviews held during the last few
days, were to consist of the following
points,
II. Official assurance by the federal gov
ernment that the guilty parties should be
brought to Justice;
''2. Recognition in principle that indem-
nifty is due to the relatives of the victims.
"Your excellency was pleased to declare
to me that, as the federal government did
not think it could take this view of the
case, it declined to take aforesaid demands
into consideration. Under these circum-
stances. the government of his majesty,
considering the legitimate action of the
kings minister at Washington becomes in
eflcacious, has ordered me to take my
leave. In obedience, have the honor to
announce that am going to leave Wash
ington as speedily as possible, leaving the
Marquis Impcriali, his majesty's secretary
of legation, in charge of the current bust
ness Of the royal legatlon.''
.9"cretary Blaine to-day wrote to Charge
d'Atfatres imperial, as follows: II beg to
express the sincere regret with which the
government of the United States receives
the intelligence of Baron Fava's speedy de-
parture from this capital. Though he has
more than once intimated this purpose, the
government of the United States has been
unable to see adequate PERSONS for such a
step. The baron's services here for the
past ten years have been distinguished at
all times by the most agreeable relations
government. Regret.at his leaving is en-
hanced when. as the president believes, he
has been recalled under misapprehension
of fact by the government of Italy.
''Ihe first demand stated by Baron Fava
is slightly changed in phrase from that
employed by him in his many verbal re-
quests based OH kilograms from Marquis
Rudmi declared that 1taly's right to de-
mand and to obtain the punishment of
murderers and indemnity of VIC
tins is unquestionable.' 1t is
inferred that Baron Fava's change
of phrase meant no change of demand.
have endeavored to impress upon him in
several personal interviews with which he
has honored me, that the government of
the United States is utterly unable to give
the assurance which Marquis Rudini has
demanded. Even if the national govern
ment had entire jurisdiction over the al
legged murderers, 1t could not give assur-
ance to any. foreign power that they should
be punished.
1.-The president is unable to see how any
government could justly give assurance of
this character in advance of the trial and
verdict of guilty In the constitution OF
the United States it is declared that 'in all
criminal prosecutions the accused shall en-
JOY the right to a speedy and public trial
by an impartial jury, of the state and
committed 1t needs no argument to
prove that jury could not be impartial
If 1t were in any sense, or to any degree,
bound before the trial of the accused by an
assurance which the president of the United
States had ventured to give a foreign
power. In the constitution of the state of
Louisiana, under whose immediate jurisdic,
tlon the crimes were committed, substan-
TALLY the same provision is found, so the
governor of that state would be us unable
to give II pledge in advance for the result of
the trial under state law, rs the president
would be were it practicable to try the lead
ers of the mob under the law of the United
States.
I'm Baron Fava's second point, he de-
mands recognition, in principle, that in
demnity is due to relatives of the victims.
He is assuredly under grave error when he
declares that tto Uniteu Stutes gov vi IitiieIit
declined to take this demand into consid-
Grafton, and l shall regret it if he has COM
municated such conclusion to your govern
ment. The United States, SO far from 70
fusing, has distinctly recognized the prin
ciple of indemnity to those Italian subjects
who may have been wronged by violation of
the United States of February 26, 1871.
have repeatedly given to Baron Fava assur-
ance that, under directions of the
president, all facts and incidents connected
with the unhappy tragedy at New Orleans
March Ia last should be most thoroughly
l have also informed him
that in a matter of such gravity the gov
of the United States would not
permit itself to be unduly hurried; nor will
it make answer TO any demand until every
fact essential to correct Judgment shall
have been fully ascertnined through legal
The impatience of the aggrieved
may be natural. but its indulgence does not
always secure the most substantial Justice"
The fact that Secretary Blaine addressed
his last letter on the subject of the New
Orleans tragedy to Marquis Imperiali,
charge d'affairs, is of Significance, demon
strating that the government does not re-
caused by Baron Faya's recall as complete.
Had that view been taken the
would have been ad-
dressed to the Italian government direct or
through the medium OF Minister Porter at
Rome. How the matter ID viewed by the