The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-25
Old Bugaboo Causes Trouble
With Other Countries.
Prevents Federal Governments
From Carrying Out Treaties.
THE CASE OF ITALIANS
Who Have Been Lynched is
Cited as an Instance.
Italy's New Ambassador Points
Out Our Defects.

Washington, Dec. 25.-The Italian
government has been renewing its eS-
forts of late with the authorities in
Washington to have our federal statutes
so extended as to protect foreigners in
cases arising within the jurisdiction of
states, thus givingsa federal remedy for
lynchings and like ARRAYS decided
against Italians, such as have occurred
in Louisiana, Colorado and Mississippi
1t is the exchange of views in this con-
nection which recently brought on the
discussion in the Italian senate, when
Baron Fava interpolated the Italian
premier as to the progress of an adjust-
merlt Immediately on the arrival OF
the new ambassador Signor MatSt
Desplaincez, he took up this question:
which had arisen in connection with tho
lynching of several Italian citizens at
Erwin, Miss In this connection Signon
Mayor said today:
Under the treaty which exists be-
tween Italy and the United States, the
citizens of each country are guaranteed
the fullest protection while residing iri
the other country. In the case of Amerfs
cans residing in Italy they had exactly
the same rights, the same protection
the same recourses to the courts, that
an Italian subject enjoys The only ex-
ception is in connection with political
rights. In the case of Italians residina
in the United States, the treaty assures
them the same rights and protection
tunately this expression of the treaty so
far as 1T relates to Italians in this coun-
try is somewhat theoretical for unden
the An ner1can system which limits the
federal authority over states. the cen-
trail government is not able to give eff
feet to the guarantee laid down by the
treaty We fully recognize the diff
culties of this situation, which have
been as apparent to the statesmen OF
this country as they have to those OF
Italy We have hoped this would bring
mo not araf tf 1rrn l. u.
would permit the federal government to
carry out the guarantees of treaties.
This would be a genuine remedy fot
affairs similar to those which have occur
wed in Louisiana and Mississippi and
would prevent the periodical agitation
over cases arising in the states.
Since the recent lynchings at Erwin.
Miss, there has been more or less dis
cussion of the payment of a money in
demnity. But in the view of the Ital-
ian government the question of indem-
nifty does not enter into the case. There
has been no suggestion coming from
us, much less demand for cash in
demnity to the government The Ital-
ian government does not seek blood
money AT the same time the families
of the victims who are the ones most
directly affected are naturally willing
to listen to suggestion of a monetary
indemnity, and when these suggestions
are voluntarily made by the state on
federal authorities we can do nothing
more than be the medium for consid-
ering them in behalf of our people,
But such indemnities are to the peo--
pie affected, and not to the Italian gov-s
ernment, which feels that there is q.
far greater question involved than any
financial return to individuals. 1t is
the real and the permanent remedy OF
having the federal laws give to Ital-
ian subjects the protection guaranteed
in our treaties that we desire and 1t is
to this end that my exchanges of views
are rendering rather than to the pay
ment of special indemnitfes in specfa1
cases. What the Italian government
desires is a system covering all cases.