The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-01

to prevent the killing was, it is said, re-
garded by the italian Government with ex-
treme dissatisfaction.
1t appeared that the United States Gov
ernmcnt had exhausted its resources. The
relations between the National Government
and the Government of the State were so
fixed by the American Constitution, that
when the Italian Minister, obeying the
commands of his Government sought for
some assurances that the persons concerned
in the killing of its subjects would be pun
ished, 1t was not possible for the General
Government to give any definite assurances
Of the kind.
AN ITALIAN VIEW.
1t could and did point to the fact that the
Grand Jury was the American provision for
calling before the bar of justice all persons
who had viOlSted the law Of the land, but
this particular Grand jury was called
together under the laws of the sovereign
State of Louisiana, and whether or not 1t
would punish, according to the Italian idea
of justice. was something no national Off
cial from the President down could guar
antee, and the Italian Government was not
satisfied with such views.
With the relations between the State and
National Governments and the peeularlties
OF our constitutional system Of Government
it had nothing to do, but it was necessary,
according to its views, that Italian citizens
in foreign countries should be accredited the
full measure Of protection fixed by the laws
of these countries. Here was a case, where,
according to the statement of its mipster
Italian subjects had been arrester.,
charge of crime and acquitted by an 3
can jury, according to the forms If
can law. These men were decided inn,
by judicial tribunal, and had been slain by
an angry people.
INNOCENT ITALIAN SUBJECTS.
The Italian Government could not 60 be-
hind the verdict of the American court, and
notwithstanding it was stated in some quar-
ters that the men were really guilty of foul
assassination aud had been acquitted by
means of bribery, in the eye of the Italian
Government they were innocent Italian sub
jects. In their violent killing the italian
people had been outraged and insulted. The
National Government Of the United States
had, as stated, failed to give any definite as
surance that reparatiOn would be made
There was but cue course and that was
taken to-day when the Italian Minister no.
tilted Secretary Blaine that lie had been re-
called because his Government was dtSsatis-
fed with the negotiations. This is the
Italian view of the matter.
A Co1IMoTIoN AMONG OFFICIALS.
There was a commotjon among the Stat e
Department officials when the fact became
known that Baron Fava had been recalled.
They did not know it ofieially-save the
Secretary-before the close Of Office hours,
for the Secretary was confined to his home
by the recurrence of his old malady, gout.
The Secretary managed to get into his
carriage at o'clock and drove to the White
House, where he Id the President all that
had occurred and discussed the future pros
peets, remaining an hour. he then returned
home and was not accessible.
The State Department officials declined to
discuss the matter None Of tha officials
cared to be quoted in their opinions, as pre-
cedents were TO be looked up before they
could be ventured. There was, however. a
general impression that it would be of little
matter ard there was no idea the dogs Of
war would be unloosed.
Fava has not demanded his passport as
was at first reported. There are many steps
! in diplomacy, and though the slight distinc-
| ti0ns and small fOrmalities appear trivial in
the public view they are really full Of sig
nifCauce to the trained diplomatist
AN EXTREME MEASURE.
A demand for a passport is an extreme
measure. 1t is taken when the war feeling
runs high and Minister'S person is in dan
ger at the hands Uf the populace. 1t is also
in degree suggestive of a menace.
A recall under the circumstances of this
case is a serious matter. There could be no
| attempt to disguise the fact, but it does not
signify that mutual explanations and dipo-
macy cannot restore the old status.
The Charge d'Affaires, the Marquis Impe-
riale, has been left in charge Of the Italian
Legation, 50 the severance of the diplomatic
relations cannot be regarded as complete.
| Just what the status of this official is cannot
be known except through Ills official acts.
| 1t is stated that he is in charge of current
affairs"
| II any serious significance attaches to the
Minister'S recall, this means that the Charge
d'Affaires is to bo limited in his functions to
issuing passports, instructing consular Off
GERS and other small matters. In this case
further correspondence between the Govern
mcnts of the United States and Italy must
take place directly between Washington and
| Rome.
! FALSE REPORTS CIRCULATED.
| Late this afternoon many erroneous re-
| ports were in circulation respecting alleged
outrages on American citizens in Italy.
Careful inquiry al the Department of State
| fails to disclose more than two complaints of
this character during the past six months.
In one case an American citizen, who was in
the habit of crossing the Piedmont bound
airy line, was suspected Of smuggling, and
when he refused to allow the Italian Gus
toms officers to search his carriage for con-
traband articles, he was arrested and made
bitter complaint. In the other case an
Italian who had returned from the United
States was arrested for alleged brigandage
in 1866. 1t appeared, upon consulting the
records, that he had been included in an
amnesty proclamation. so he was released
just as our State Department discovered that
he had been fraudulently naturalized in this
country.
/ REPORTED SEIZURE OF AMERICANS.
1t was reported in newspaper circles here
this-afternoon that news had been received
in Washington to the effect that in retalia-
ton for the New Orleans lynching eighteen
American citizens had been seized at Flor
ence and cast into pris on, and that similar
seizures have occurred in other parts OF
Italy. This report however could not be
! traced to any reliable source, and is without
doubt the wild imagining OF some excited
| individual.
| EXTRA SESSION