New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-12
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
PREMIER RUDINpS THREAT.
ROMAN NEWSPAPERS EXPRESS BELIEF IN
THE TRUTH OF THE STORY.
THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT SAID TO HAVE
GIVEN THE UNITED STATES UNTIL TUES
DAY FOR AN ANSWER TO ITS NOTE
HOW THE REPORT WAS
STARTED-sTILL DISCRED-
TIED IN WASHINGTON.

| Rome, April 1.-The principal topic Of Con-
versation to-day in political and official circles
has been the report put in circulation last evening
| to the effect that unless the American Govern
ment made speedy reply TO Premier Rudinis last
note, Minister Porter would be politely requested
to leave Rome and the Italian Legation would be
recalled from Washington General interest In
| the New.Orleans affair had subsided, and every
body supposed that the incident would be settled
| through the usual diplomatic channels without
| further irritation friction. Last nights re-
port, therefore, came with startling suddenncss.
| 1t seemed to indicate if il should prove we'll
| founded, that the Italian Cabinet again dis
satisfied with the progress of the correspondence
with Secretary Blaine, and proposed demand
that the United States Government should act In
the matter with greater promptitude.
! Such an attitude the part of the Italian Gov.
ernment seemed so unreasonable in view OF all
the recent developments, that last nights report
at first generally discredited. Many of the
newspapers, however, to-day gave it conspicuous
prominence in their columns and asserted their
belief that il was substantially correct They
say that America is to have until next Tuesday,
| April a. to reply to the last Italian note. The
original report had fixed to-day the limit IL
| by Tuesday no reply is forthcoming from Secre-
tary Blaine, then, the papers declare, diplomatic
communication between the two countries is to
be wholly suspended.
! AS a result OF the newspapers assertions the
port this evening is not summarily dismissed as
incredible. Many who at first secuted it utter
! ly without foundation are now inclined to think
that il may have some basis, while the believers
! in Italian self-assertion and vigorous foreign
! policy are elated.
The original source of the report seems to give
! lic II &c nod ia
evening. was a prominent member of the Chamber
of Deputies who is an ardent supporter of Marquis
di Rudini and is believed to share his confidence
| Whether or not the Premier has actually de-
cided already upon the extreme course indicated,
| il is unquestionable that this course is under
| discussion in high Government circles and meets
| with favorable comment. It may be that the
Deputy who started the report supposed de-
cision had been reached when the subject was
really only being considered and it may be that
the report was given out TO test public opinion
before the Cabinet should commit itself absolutely
| to so grave step.
DISPATCHES from America hint that Secretary
Blaine has already prepared his answer and THAI
it is thought likely he has already sent 1t TO
| Rome instead of through Marquis lmperlali. III
that be the case, he must have dispatched IL py
post, as it is certain that no reply has yet been
| received.
Washington, April IL tSpeciap.-Despite the
| reiteration of tlre story from Rome that unless
| the United States Government shall reply on or
before a certain date-now fixed as April IA, ac-
| cordng to Rome dispatches-tO certain missive
addressed to it by Marquis Rudini, the Italian
| Government will send Minister Porter his pass
ports and sever all diplomatic relations with the
United States it be authoritativey stated
| that the Administration in Washington has re-
| ceived no intimation, from any source what
| ever, that the Italian Government contemplates
or has ever contemplated such course.
| 1t is natural to suppose that if any such thing
! had been proposed or contemplated the American
Minister in Rome would have been advised of it
and would have promptly communicated with
the State Department on the subject. That he
has not done so ought to be sufficient TO convince
every intelligent person that the story Is not
true There are persons in Washington who at
tribute the story to the friends and partlsans OF
! ex-Premer Crispi, who, they say, seems disposed
to take advantage of the pending matter to EN-
barrass the present Italian Administration.
There is strong circumstanital evidence tend
| ing 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 misunder-
standing. Undoubtedly at this juncture the fact
that Italy is without a fully authorized dplomato
the negotiations between the two Governments
| and breed misunderstanding. In few moments
conversation it would be possible for the Secretary
of State to make satisfactory explanation to for
| eign Minister Of what might otherwise appear to
| be an unreasonable delay in carrying forward ne
gotiations. The Marquis mperiali, however, u
an impersonal figure in the controversy. The
Secretary may direct his notes to him.
but he cannot reply personally nor inter-
| fere with suggestion. He can simply
transmit the notes passing between Italy and the
| United States. 1t is suggested that Secretary
J Blaine may be dissatisfied with this cumbersome
way of correspondence at second hand. and has
already availed himself of the more direct method
of communication afforded by the presence Of the
American Minister in Rome. 1t is certain that
Minister Porter has been fully informed Of the
attitude of the State Department, and that he has
already interposed with the Italian Government
by direction of the Department with good results.
in the explanation of American methods of juris-
| prudence.
Whether Secretary Blaine's reply to the Marquis
di Rudini's note-for a reply was written-has yes
reached the Italian Government by one or
the other of these means Of communica-
| ton is not known here.
In the course of the afternoon the President
walked over from the White House and consulted
with Secretary Blaine respecting diplomatic mat
tiers that may require action during the Presidents
absence from Washington.
AS stated in diplomatic and courteous phrase
ology in Secretary Blaine's letter TO the Marquis
Imperiali, the Government OF the United States
proposes to deal with the questions at issue earn.
estly, but with caution and dehberation.
necessary preliminary to the disposition OF the
New-Orleans matter is trustworthy official state
ment OF the nationality Of the victims and
their records in this country and in Italy Tho
abstract of Rudini's note telegraphed from Rome
indicates that the Premier was willing To take
into consideration evidence on the latter point
This evidence has not yet been collected Ofhcers
under the control Of the Department OF Justice
are still at work in New-Orleans, and their re-
ports have not yet reached the Attorney Gen