New-York tribune., 1919-10-21
Italian Envoy
Dies Suddenly
At W ashington
Stricken Saturday, Count
di Cellere Expires i'll the
Hospital While Doctors
Are Waiting to Operate
Long Noted in Diplomacy
Former Minister to Argen-
tina Also was a Delegate
to the Peace Conference

TO the Peace Conference
WASHINGTON, Oct. o0-Count v.
Macchi Di Cellere, Italian Ambassador
to the United States since 1913, died in
the Emergency Hospital here tonight
just as he was about to undergo an
operation. He had been i'll since
Saturday.
The ambassador was removed from
the embassy to the hospital tonight
after his physician had decided that
only an operation would save his life.
He reached the hospital at 8 o'clock
ard died forty minutes later on the
operating table before the operation
IVES started. His death was pro-
nounced as due to a blood clot in the
abdominal membranes.
Countess Di Cellere and several
members of the embassy staff were at
the hospital when his death occurred.
The ambassador was fifty three years
old.
The Ambassador, who in point of
service was one Of the oldest diplo-
matte repres natives in Washington,
leaves two children in addition to
Countess di Cellere. The body was re-
moved from the hospital to the embassy
tonight. Arrangements for funeral
services here had not been arranged
tonight, but according to diplomatic
custom the body will be taken to Italy
aboard an American battleship.
Recent hard work over the COM
plicated international situation, coupled
with his approaching retirement, it was
said by his friends tonight, may have
affected his health.
The appointment Of Count Vincenzo
Macchi d Cellere as italian Ambas-
sador at Washington, was made Octo-
Der Z, 1918. On the same day he was
actually commissioned by the govern
ment at Rome to succeed the Marquis
/ Cusani Corfalonier, who had served
for some time at Washington with
great acceptability to both govern
ments, but who retired at his own
request in order to look after his per-
sonal and domestic interests.
Whlle there was much regret at the
departure of Marquis Confalonieri,
there was sincere pleasure at the com
ing OF Count and Countess di Celere,
both OF whom were we'll known at
Washington and were highly esteemed.
They had been at Washington in in
1903-'05, when Count di Celere was
Counseller of the embassy, in the Am
bassadorshlp of Baron Mayor des
Planches.
Being people of wealth, they enter
tanned socially on sumptuous scale.
n pleasant memory of them was their
hne horsemanship, when almost daily
IN the season they were to be seen
riding in Rock Creek Park or elsewhere.
accompanied by their young son.
Married Argentine Belle
Before coming to Washington. in
1903, Count di Cellere had enjoyed a
notable career. He had been secretary
Of the Italian Legation at Buenos
Ayres in 1893, when in his early TWEEN
ties, and had there married Scnorita
Dolores Cabo, daughter of one of the
weaithlest and most aristocratic Span
lsh families Of that capital After that
first service at Washington he returned
to Italy, to be secretary to three sue
cessive Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
Then, from 1907 to 1912, he was Minis
ter to Argentina, where his former ox-
perience there and the personality of
the countess and her family connec-
tions made his career one of exception
al success. He returned from that
mission shortly before his appointment
to the Washington ambassadors
Count d Cellere did not actually
enter upon his ambassadorshin until
nearly year after his appointment. IT
was not until the end Of October, 1914.
that he and the countess and their two
children arrived in WASHINGTON. The
not yet entered it, and one of his first
utterances was a declaration of his
governments purpose to maintain
strict neutrality.
Promoted Ally Interests
When Italy entered the war, how
ever, he was appointed High Commits
sioncr for that country in America, in
addition to his mbassadorship, and in
that capacity showed himself most
jealous and efficient in promoting Ital-
ian and Allied interests.
lie frequently appeared in this city
at patriotic gatherings. At the "Hero
Land" festival at the Grand Central
Palace, in December, 1917, he made a
notable address. He rejoced in the
entry of America into the war, and at
Baltimore, in April, 1918, declared 'the
flag of the United States knows only
one path-that of victory"
Again, in May, he spoke at the cele-
bration of the third anniversary of
ltaly's entrance into the war and paid
a notable tribute to the American Red
Cross and it's work. When the great
Italian victooy over Austria was won.
~. eiAS i"ii VI A0IO, uC pIculCJeu luc cuQ
of the war speedily would follow, as it
did.
Figure in Peace Conference
Early in the present year the am
bassador went to Paris as one of the
Italian delegates to the peace congress.
and there was popular and influential
figure, always speaking strongly for
measures that would make Germany
"stay beaten" He especially opposed
letting Austria and Germany unite.
He returned to this country in the
middle of July, among the nearly 10000
passengers on the steamship Imperator,
and resumed his duties at Washington.
The dissatisfaction of Italy over Pres
ident Wilson's attitude toward the Fiume
question, however, rendered his position
increasingly unsatisfactory to himself,
and rumors of his retirement rose a
fortnight ago On October Is he per-
formed his last important official act.
in communicating to Secretary Lansing
the basis for the settlement of the Fiumc
dispute which Signor Tittoni, the Italian
Foreign Minister, had taken to Paris. a
plan contemplating the erection of
Fiume and its environs into a buffer
state
On the preceding day. October IA. an
nouncement was made at Rome that he
was to retire and that Baron Romano
AvezzanO was to be his successor. Baron
Avczzano has been Italian Minister to
Greece, but is also we'll known to manv