The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-04-01
A SMALL WAR CLOUD ON THE HORIZON.
italian ironcIads May Appear off
cusnIne's Island.
although There sesms To Be No Inn
ninent Danger oft.
Baron Fava Recalled from His Post
at Wa shInaton.

sNAVss uhkCn ol.--WILn an OulCiai
note dated today. the Italian minister. de-
elared 70 the secretary Of state tnat the
united States government, not having given
assurance that the murderers Of Italian sub
lects, acquitted by the American magistrates
and murdered In prison while under the Inn
mediate protection Of the authorities Of New
Orleans, would be brought to justice. The
italian government found itself under the
very painful necessity Of showing openly Its
dissatisfaction by recalling the minister
OF His Majesty from a country where the
Italian representative Is unable to obtain
justice.
The baron will soon leave the United
States, leaving the secretary OF the legation
In charge only Of current affairs.
This action by the Italian government
/ caused the deepest surprise In official circles
here when It became known It being gener-
ally supposed that the italian government
would at least await the actin OF the New
Orleans grand jury charged with the investi-
CATION Of the bloody episode at the New Or
leans jail. 1t appears that the information
i received from its representatives must have
led that government to the conclusion that
| the grand jury investigation would fail TO
result In the punishment or even Indictment
OF any person connected with the killing Of
the Italians.
The letter of Governor Nichols In reply to
Secretary Blaine, also, 1t Is thought, Is re-
garded as evasiye of the real point at Issue
reparation for the alleged wrong. The gov
ernors assurances that further bloodshed
would not follow, unacc0mpanied by any
excuse for the failure OF the state or munich
pal authorities 10 take precautions to preuent
the killing, was, 1t Is said, regarded by the
Italian government with extreme dlssatisfac-
tion. Itsppears too, tnat the United States
government exhausted Its resources.
The relations between the national govern
ment and the governments OF the states are
so fixed by the American constitution that
when the italian minister, obeying the COM
mands OF his government, sought for some
assurance that the persons concerned In the
killing Of Its subjects would be punished. 1t
Is not possible for the general government to
give any dehnite assurance Of the kind 1t
could ana ;na dld point to the fact that the me
calling before the bar OF justice the persons
who violated the law OF the land. But this
particular grand jury Is called together un-
der the laws Oh the sovereign state Of Louis
Ing to the Italian idea Of justice Is something
| the national officials could not guarantee.
The Italian government Is not satisfied
with such views. With the relations be-
tween our state and national governments
and the regulations Of our constitutional
/ system Of government, 1t had nothing to do,
| but 1t was necessary, according to Its Views,
that Italian citizens In foreign countries
i
lection fixed by the laws of these countries.
| Here was case where, according to the
statement Of the minister, Italian subjects
arrested on chargetof crime acquitted by an
American jury according TO the forms Of
American law, three men declared innocent
by a judicial tribunal, were slain by an angry
people.
hind the verdict Of the American courts,
| Notwithstanding IL was stated In some quar-
ters that the men were really guilty Of foul
| assassination. and only acquitted by means
Of bribery. In the eye Of the Italian gov-
| erument they are innocent italian subjects.
In their violent killing the Italian people
were outraged and insulted. The national
government Of the United States had failed
to give any definite assurance that reDara-
tioD would be made. and there was but one
recourse that was taken today when the
that he had been recalled. There was a
| c0mmotlon among the State Depal tment OF.
heials when the fact became known that
Baron Faya had been recalled. They did
not know 1t officially, save the Secretary, be-
fore the close Of Office hours. Tie Secretary
Is confined TO his home again by a recurrence
OF the gout, and did not send word to his
leutenants In the Department Of State. He
O'Clock and drive to the White House, where
| he told the President all that had occurred
and discussed future prospects. He stayed
with the President an hour, when he re-
II suAAC0 W Alo nOutO duu was uUk dCCco5lDlts
| They Bellttle the Affair.
The state department officials did not care
| to talk about the matter. Mr.. Wharton, the
his rooms by Illness, and Mr.. Adee, another
assistant secretary, was not informed Of the
event. which was the absorbing topic of con-
,Ssss SHIs the people outside None
ions. Precedents will have 10 be looked up
before they could be ventured. 1t was the
general disposition to belittle the matter and
there Is no idea that the dogs Of war will be
unloosed.
Baron Fava had not demanded his pass
ports, as was at first reported.
| There are many steps In diplomacy aud,
though the slight distinctions and small for
malities appeared trivial In the public virw.
they were really full OF signihcanee to the
trained diplomat. A recall under the circum-
| stances Of this case Is q serious matter. There
could be no attempt TO disguise that fact but
1t does not signify that mutual explanation
and diplomacy cannot restore the old
status. The charge d'Anaires. Marquis In
| periali, Is left In charge OF the Italian lega-
tion, so the severance diplomatic relations
cannot be regarded as complete. just what
the status Of this official Is cannot be known
| except through his official acts. II Is stated
| that he Is In charge Of current affairs" III
| any serious Significance attaches to the min
isters's recall, this means that the charge Is
to be limited In his functions to Issuing pass
i
small matters. 10 this case, further cores
| D0ndence between the governments OF the
| United States and Italy must take place d.
rectly between Washington and Rome.
Nobody Arrested.
| Late this afternoon certain erroneous re-
ports were In circulation respecting alleged
Outrages on American citizens In Italy,
Careful inquiry at the department of state
fails to disclose more than two complaints Of
this character during the past six months.
These two appear devoid OF features calcul-
ated to give rise to International eomplica-
tiOns. In one case an American citizen, In
the habit OF crossing the Piedmont boundary
line In frequent drives was suspected Of
smuggling. When the man refused to allow
the customs officers to search his carriage for
| contrabaud articles and he was arrested he
made bitter complaint Of discourtesy.
In the other case an Italian who had re-
turned from the United States, was arrested
for alleged brigandage In 1866. 1t appeared
upon the consulting records that he had been
included in the amnesty proclamation so he
was released Just as our department Of state
discovered that he was fraudulently natural
lied In this country when he mad resided
here only two years.
The despatch In relation to the recall Of
the Italian minister. was shown to Consress-
man Dlngley last night. "The action Of the
Italian government Is certainly great sur
prise; but do not think 1t means anything
serious. Our government has not had time
to take the proper steps; and think, per-
haps the action Of the Italian government
would not have been taken did their states
men fully understand our system OF govern
ment. Their action is certainly prema-
ture," said he.
Mr.. Greenhalge was Of the same opinion.
He thought the action Of the italian govern
ment premature. and probably explainable
by misunderstanding Of their statesmen as
to our system Of government"
No Excitement In Now Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS, March 31.-The news Of
Baron Fava's recall has not caused much ex-
element here. Gov. Nichols said ne felt the
position OF the state to be correct. The Ital-
ian consul had not received any official in
formation from Washington and aid not
think the departure Of the minister for Italy
necessarily implied any thing hostile.
A Different View Of the Case.
II pNW.r n Nard