The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-09-30
WiHBreak Befmeen Italy and America
Come, Is Question in Official Circles
Ousting of Italians From Dali
matian TOwn-The Fiume In
cident Latest Grounds For
Trouble Between Nations.

-
Washington, sept. 2e.-official cir
cles are asking ia break between Italy
and America viii come.
Six times the United States has been
on the edge of trouble with Italy before
the present clash over Fiume. But the
Fiume crisis is the most serious.
Diplomatic relations with Italy were
actually broken in 1891. following the
Iynching of IL Italians in New Or
leans The lynching occurred on the
morning of March ID of that year, aft
er the murder of the New Orleans
chief of police alleged to have been a
victim of the Malta. an Italian Sc
cret society.
Blaine, then secretary of state, de-
nounced the lynching, sent regrets TO
Baron F'ava, italian ambassador. and
telegraplied the governor of Louisiana
to bring the lynchers to justice. But
Baron Fava was withdrawn, and a de-
mand made by Italy for assurance by
the United States that the guilty per-
sons would be brought to trial and
for indemnity due the victims rela-
tives.
None of those indicted We're tried,
the grand jury having excused those
made the situation even more tense.
and 1t seemed the two countries could
not come to terms. Diplomatic rela-
tions. remained broken for nearly a
year, until on April IL. 1892, President
Harrison rendered the Italian charge
daffaires a check for s24, 5000. with a
note of regret for the unhappy Incl
dent.
On March II, 1895, three Italians
were slain after one had been charged
with the murder of saloon keeper
Secretary OF State Oiney officially ex-
pressed regret for the incident and
handed the italian ambassador a check
for $4,000, by which the matter was
considered closed
Then came another outbreak of mob
fury, at Hahnville, La, in 1896, when
three Italians held on a charge of hom-
icide, Were 1ynched. The Italian am
basSador complained. Liability for the
murders was questioned by the L. s.
authorities, but to avoid any dispute
with Italy, congress appropriated s6,-
900 to be paid the Italian government.
A neighborhood quarrel resulted in
the lynching of five Italians at Tallu-
lah, La. on July ., 1899. Grand juries
failed to indict any one. The Italian
am DaSSauOr became impatient CUES
tion arose concerning the nationality
of the victims. An indemnity for
the relatives, another note of regret
finally closed the incident.
Tt Erwin, Miss. on July Is, 1901.
two Italians were killed and a third
wounded The Italian ambassador
complained the treaty assuring Italians
the freedom and judicial equality of
American citizens had been violated.
Congress gave the federal courts orig
inal jurisdiction over treaty offenses
against aliens. and appropriated s5,-
900 to the heirs of the victims. Federal
court jurisdiction made it possible for
federal detectives to bring the Grim
inais to justice
Last January the shoe was on the
other foot. An insult to the United
States flag by the commander of an
Italian ship in the Adriatic, started
a protest by the L. s. and ended in
the apology by the Italian government.
1t was at the port of Jelsa. on. January
1e. when naval officers of the italian
government hauled down the Ameri-
can flag on the steamer Dinara and
~ s-sT ffat IF ITALY