The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-04-01
FROM WASHINGTON
The Department of State is
Surprised.
IT NAY BE A SERIOUS MATTER.
Baron Fava Did Not Demand His Passport
Hum5ert and Rudini Are Incensed Over
the New Orleans Massacre-Va-
rions Comments.

WASHINGTON, March 3l.-With an Official
note dated to DAY, Baron Fava, Italian minis
Ter, has declared 10 his secretary OF state that
the United States government not having given
assurance that the murderers of the Italian
subjects. acquitted by American magistrates
ana murdered In prison while under the i'm
mediate protection OF the authorities at New
orleans, could be brought TO justice. the Italian
government has found itself under the very
painful necessity OF showing openly its dis
satisfaction by. recalling the minister of his
majesty from a country where the Italian rep
resent alive is unable to obtain Justice The
baron will soon leave the United States leav-
ing the secretary Of legation in charge of only
current affairs
This action by the italian government
caused the deepest surprise in official circles
mere when the fact became known. 1t had
generally been supposed the Italian govern
would at least wa il the action of the New
orleans grand jury which is charged with the
investigation OF the bloody tradegy at the New
orleans jail. 1t appears, however that infor-
mauon from its representative must have lead
the government 10 the conclusion that the
grand Jury investigation would fail to result in
Inc punishment or even Indictment of any per.
ron connected with the killing of the Italians
Aue letter OF Governor Nichols in reply to
secretary Blaine was also, he thought regarded
as eYaslve OF the real point at issue Repar-
aIlllon Tor an alleged wrong and the governors
tSSuFaGce That further bloodShed would not
follow, unaccompanied by any excuse as to the
laiIure OF The state or municipal authorities to
take precautions to prevent killing was it is
elio- regarded by the Italian government with
extreme dissatisfaction. 1t appeared the limited
states government had exhausted its resources
Inc relations between the national government |
anu inc governments of the states were so fixed
10y Inc American constitution that when the /
4taIaE minister, obeying the commands of his |
government, sought for some assurances that
the persons concerned in the killing of its sub
gecis would be punished, il was not possible for
1he general government to give any definite
assurance OF the kind. 1t could and did point |
10 tne TACT that the grand jury was an Ameri- |
can provision for calling before the bar of ius- |
rice persons who had violated the law of the |
land: But this particular grand jury was called |
loEelher under the laws OF the soye-
reign state of Louisiana. and whether |
or not II would punish according to the |
1taIlan ldea OF justice, was something no ma |
tlonal of1clal from the President down could |
guarantee, and the Italian government was not |
satisfied with such views. With the relations |
between the state and national government |
ana Inc pecuharltleS of our constitutional svs- |
tenn OF government, it had nothing to DO hui il /
was necessary, according to its views that
1Odlan cltlzens n foreign countries should be |
accorded the full measure of protection fixed |
10y the laws of these countries Here was a |
case where according 10 the statement of the
minister Italian subjects had been arrested on |
charge OF crime, ana acquitted by an Ameri-
can Jury, according TO the forms of American
law These men were decided innocent by a
Judicial tribunal and had been slain by an
angry people. The Italian government Could
not go behind the verdict of an American court
ana Notwithstanding IL was stated in Soma
quarters that the men were really guilty of |
1oul ASSASSINATION and had been acquitted by
means OF bribery, IN the eye of the Italian gov
eminent, they we're innocent Italian subjects
m, Ia Their r. violent killing, the Italian
The national government of the United
States had, as stated. failed to give any definite
as urance that reparation would be made
Ihere was put one course and that was taken
Today, when the Italian minister notified
Secretary Blaine he had been recalled because
his government was dissatisfied with the nepo
nations. This Is the Italian view of the matter
There was commotion among the state depart
ment o1lclalS when the fact became known that
Baron Fava had been recalled. They did not I
know IL olclally, save the secretary before
the close OF office hours, for the secretary is
confined at home again by a recurrence Of his
olo malay, govt. The secretary managed to
ct into carriage at pm. and drive 10 the
White House where he told the President am |
that had occurred, discussed future prospects
remaining an hour, then returned home and |
Was not accessible. state department officials
decilned 10 discuss the matter. as none OF the
officials cared TO be quoted on their opinions as
presidents were to be looked for before thew
could be Tenturcd. There was, however a
general disposition 10 believe il would be a
little matter, and there was no idea the dogs of
war would be unloosed.
Fava has not demanded his passport rs at |
first reported. There were MANY stems in dinlo-
macy, and though slight distinctions and small
IormalltleS appeared TRIVIAL in the public view,
they were really tull of significance to the l.
trained dlplomatlSt. a demand for passuortS
Il an extreme measure; 1t is taken when the
war feeling runs high and minister's person is
II Ganger Al the na00S OF The populace II is
also in a degree suggestive of a menace A re-
call under the circumstances of this case is n l.
serious matter. There could be no attempt to
disguise the fact, but it does not signify that
mutual explanations and diplomacy can not re-
store the old status.
Charge da1aires. Marquis Imperialli. has
been left In charge OF the Italian legation. so
severance OF diplomatic relations cannot be
regarded as complete. Just what the status OF
this ofacial is, cannot be known except through
his Official acts. 1t is ST ated ne is in charge Of
current a1alrs. If Any serious significance
attaches TO the minister's recall this means
that the charge is TO be limited in his functions
10 issuing passports, lnStructing consular Of
hcers and other small matters. In this case
further correspondence between the govern
ments OF the United States and Italy must take
place directly between Washington and Rome !
Late this afternoon, erroneous reports were
IN circulation, respecting alleged outrages on ,
American citizens in Italy. Careful inquiry at
The department OF state fails to disclose more
than twc complaints OF this character during ;
the past six months. In one case an American I
citizen, while crossing the Piedmont boundary
refused 10 allow the Italian customs officers TO I
search his carriage for contraband articles was !
arrested and made E bitter complaint. III the !
other case an Italian returning from the United
States was arrested Tor alleged brigandage in l
1860. II appeared consulting the records.
that he had been included in the amnesty 11ro Z
olamation. SO he WAS released Just as our slate
department discovered he had been frauduIeutly {
naturalszed in this country. I
1t can be stated positively that unless events !
take IN unforeseen and improbable turn there |
will be nc call issued for an extra session of
Congress and one of the NEST serious i'll effects !
OF the incidents win be the probable postpone
ment for an indefinite time of the Presidents ]
southern and western trip. 2
The view taken by the administration, as it is +
is that this government has done I
all that could be done in the matter Even if it
had complete legal jurisdiction In the case il
could only assure the Italian government il |
would prosecute the persons guilty of the attack
on the Italians at New Orleans. 1t could not
assure the Italian government that il would J
punish them as Italy desired: that would be for |
the grand and petit jurors to determine The c
Italian government has been told that the c
President deplores the abhorrent occurrence and v
that the government has taken steps 10 inves- {
tiRate the matter. Part Of this investi- 4 4