Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-21
SEEKING SETTLEMENT
Anxiety to Close the Venice
Incident.
GRIEVANCE OF ITALY
CLAIMS THAT AGREEMENT HAS
BEEN VIOLATED.
Proposed to Eliminate Crowninshield's
Comment From the Official
Records.
GRIEVANCE OF ITALY

There were no important developme nts to-
day I'm the diplomatic ENHANCEMENT growing
out of the unauthorized publication Of Rear
Admiral Crowninshelds reflections upon
the authorities at Venice for their alleged
illtreatment Of the officers Of the U. S. 8.
Chicago Ambassador Mayor des Planches
called at the State and Navy Depart
mcnts yesterday afternoon in regard to the
matter and was informed that the govern
ment had not yet ascertained how the rec
ord he complained of had re ached the public
in spite of their efforts to prevent it.
Secretary Moody expressed his earnest
regret to the ambassador that the findings
had been made public, and assured him
that the officials at Washington were in no
way responsible for it and did not approve
of 1t. The ambassador incines to the view
that both governments should make public
the records of proceedings in the case
Secretary Moody. however. already has eX-
pressed his desire not to make the Ameri-
can courts complete record public, and
here the matter hangs in the balance.
In view of the attitude of the American
press in regard to the Imprisonment of the
officers a t Venice Signor Mayor some days
ago cabled his government for copies of the
ofhclal reports covering the arrest, inpris-
onment and treatment of the officers
These are now at hand. but the amba ssa-
DOR declines to make them public at pres
emit However. it is underst God from the
Italian standpoint that the records show
that the Americans were not treate harsh
~ at any time after their arrest, but. on
the contrary. were accorded special nrivi-
ieges during their Imprisonment and were
finally pardoned.
Alleged Breach of Faith.
1t Is understood that the Italian ambas-
sador has called attention to the agree
ment between the Italian and United States
governments that the findings of any court
OF inquiry should not be given publicity
and that with the pardon issued by the king
the case was to be regarded as closed. The
ambassador, it is understood now holds
that the United States Internationally per
maps, has broken this agreement in pub
fishing extracts from Admiral CROWN
shields review of the court of inquiry find
ings. in which the Italian prisons and courts
are severely criticised, and is of opinion
that an official statement should be made
in order to correct the unfavorab BILE impress
sion resulting from the publication
Secretary Moody has already asked Ad-
miral Crownnshield to explain whether he
puDIlcatlon was authorized by him and in
what manner it reached the public. Should
the ambassador still decline to accept the
explanation of the Navy Department it
may be necessary to take some further ac-
tlon. The most probable course would be
to rebuke Admiral Crownnshie,d for in
discretion in issuing order before action
had been taken by the department on a
case affecting relations with friendly
government.
A Possible Settlement.
1t is stated this afternoon that the mat
ter in controversy may be settled by the
elimination from the official records of the
Navy Department of that portion of Adj
miral Crowninshield's Endorsement alleging
that the prisoners were treated with RE
voting indgnities" by the Venetian an
thorities or by official disclaimer from
the Secretary of State that the United
states government had any intention to
reflect upon the Italian authorities in the
premises.
So far as known. the Italian government
is not concerned with the individual opinion
OF Rear Admiral Crowninshield in the mat
ter, but 1t does attach considera BILE import
ance and weight to the views of the United
states government as shown by the official
records. Unless the matter can be ami
cably settled in accordance with the alleged
original understanding to allow the incident
to close with the pardon of the officers
without prejudice to either government, 1t
Is likely to interfere with the continued
friendly relations Of the two governments