The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-01

the killing Of its subjects would be punished,
IL was not possible for the general govern
ment to give any definite assurance
OF the kind. It could aud did
point to the fact that the grand jury was
the American provision for calling before
the bar of justice persons who had violated
the law of the land. But this particular
grand jury was called together under the
Jaws OF the southern state of Louisiana, and
whether or not it would punish according
20 the Italian idea of justice was something
that no national official from the President
down could guarantee.
ITALY DISSATISFIED.
The italian government was not satisfied
with such views. With the relations be-
tween the state and the national govern
ment and the peculiarities Of our constitu-
tlonel system of government it had nothing
to do. But it was necessary, according
TO Its views, that Italian citizens in for
eign countries should be accorded the
full measure of protection fixed by the laws
of those countries. Here was case where,
according to the statement of the minister,
Italian subjects had been arrested on a
charge Of crime and acquitted by an Amer
loan jury according to the forms Of Ameri-
can law. These men, declared innocent by
judicial tribunal, had been slain by an an
CRY people.
INNOCENT IN 1TALY's EYES.
The Italian government could not 20 be-
hind the verdict of the American court
and. Notwithstanding it was stated in some
quarters that the men were really guilty of
a foul assassination and had been acquitted
by means Of bribery, in the eye Of the
Italian government they were innocent
Italian subjects. In their violent killing
the Italian people had been out
ragged and insulted. The national
government Of the United States had, as
stated, failed to give any definite assurance
that reparatlon would be made. There was
but one course, and that was taken to day
when the Italian minister notified Secretary
Blaine that he had been recalled because his
government was dissatisfied with the nego-
tiations. This is the Italian view of the
matter.
CoMMoTIoN IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT..
There was commotion among the state
department officials when the fact became
known that Baron Fava had been recalled.
They did not know it officially-save Score.
tary Blaine-before the close Of Office hours,
for the secretary was confined to
his home by a recurrence of his
old nalady-the gout-and did not
send word to his lieutenants in the depart
ment Of state. But he did manage to get
into his carriage about O'Clock and drive
President all that had occurred, and dis
cussed the future prospects. He staid
with the President for an hour, and when
he returned to his home he was not acoessi-
BILE.
ALL TONGUES TIED.
The state department officials did not care
to talk about the matter. Mr.. Wharton,
the first assistant secretary, is confined 10
his room by illness. Mr.. Adee, another
assistant secretary, had not been informed
of the event which was the absorbing topic
of conversation among the people outside.
None of the officials cared to be
quoted in their opinions. Precedents were
to be looked up before they could be ven~
tured. Still there was general disposition
to belittle the matter, and there was no
idea that the dogs of war we're to be
unloosed.
PASSPORTS NOT DEMANDED.
Baron Fava had not demanded his pass
ports as had been at first reported. There
were many steps in diplomacy, and though
slight distinctions and small formalitles
appeared trivial in the public view, they
were really full of significance to the trained
diplomats. A demand for passports is an
extreme measure 1t is taken when the war
feeling runs high and the minister's
Ietsl is in danger at the hands
OF a populace. 1t is also in a degree
suggestive of menace. Recall under the
circumstances Of this case is q serious mat>
ter. There could be no attempt to disguise
that fact, but it does not signify that mu-
tual explanations and diplomacy cannot
restore the old status. The charge daft
flares, the Marquis Imperiali, has been left
in charge of the Italian legation, so that the
severance of diplomatic relations cannot be
regarded as complete.
HIS STATUS IN DOUBT.
Just what the status of this official is can
not he known except through his official
acts. It is stated that he is in charge of
''current affairs" II any serions signifl
oanoe attaches to the minister's recall this
means that the charge d'affaires is to be
limited in his functions to issuing passports,
instructing consular officers and other small
matters. In this case, further CORES
pondence between the governments OF the
United States and Italy must take place
directly between Washington and Rome.
But this view of the case Is not generally
taken in official quarters, and it is expected
that the charge d'affaires will be really in
charge of the Italian legation, and that
when Secretary Blaine wishes to address
himself to the Italian government his COM
munications will be directed to the Marquis
Imperiali, who, according to notice, is i'll
charge Of Italy's interests in the United
States.
CONGRESS NOT TO BE SUMMONED.
It can be- stated positively that unless
events take an unforeseen and improbable
turn there will be no call issued for an extra
session of congress, and one of the most
serious i'll effects of the incident will be the
probable postponement for an indefinite
time of the Presidents proposed south
ern and western trip.
The view taken by the administration, as
it is understood, is that this government
has done all that could be done in the mat
ter. Even If it had complete legal jurisdic-
tion in the case. 1t could only assure
the Italian government that it
would prosecute the persons guilty OF
the attack on the Italians at New Orleans.
1t could not assure the Italian government
that it would punish them as Italy desires
that would be for the grand and petit
juries to determine The Italian govern
ment has been told that the President "de-
plores the abhorrent occurrence" and that
this governments had taken steps to investi-
gate the matter.
THEIR NATIONALITY NOT PROVEN.
Part of this investigation was the ascer-
tainment of the nationality Of the Italians
who were killed, and this has not yet been
learned. There is no proof whatever before
the President or Secretary of State that
single Italian citizen was among the
victims, ard such proof is an
absolutely necessary preliminary to a
fair demand for reparation. Otficers OF
the department of Justice are still inQuiring