No. 158.] Mr. Draper to Mr. Day. EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I beg leave to inform you that this morning the minister of foreign affairs called my attention to a dispatch which he had received from his chargé at Washington, and which was substantially as follows: That our Treasury Department had given notice that it withdrew its consent to the continuance of the Italian immigration bureau at Ellis Island. said withdrawal to take effect on the 18th of April. This bureau, I am informed, was created to aid in the protection of immigrants against the system of "padrones," and it is also said that after four years of experience it is not considered by the Treasury Department to have attained its end. The Marquis Visconti Venosta was very much surprised and disturbed by the reception of this notice, without more definite reason being assigned and without opportunity being given for modification or explanation. He stated that if in any way the bureau was not found to operate well he would be glad to assent to any suitable modifications of its work or manner of operation. He added that he might not object to its abolition if reasons were given him a sufficient time in advance, but that a notice to quit within fifteen days, without opportunity to discuss or even understand the reasons, seemed to him at least unusual. He remarked that if the change were insisted upon in the manner above stated it would produce a disagreeable impression upon the public here. I told him that, of course, I knew nothing of the reasons, but was sure that there could be no intention of wounding the sensibilities of a friendly nation, and that I would immediately make suitable representations to the State Department. Unless there is very important reason for the action, therefore, it seems to me wiser to propose modifications rather than to refuse to permit the bureau to exist longer; and even if its longer existence is objectionable to us, could not sufficient time be given to explain the reasons to the Italian Government? The Marquis Visconti Venosta declared that he had supposed that the arrangement was working well; that he had no interest in the general subject of emigration different from ours; that he was anxious to act harmoniously with us in that matter; and that he had recommended to other American States the plan which he had supposed was doing so well at Ellis Island. I telegraphed to you on this subject this afternoon and presume I shall have received reply before you have this. Secretary of the Treasury has suspended the order relative to Ellis Island. Hope to advise if further action during day. SHERMAN. No. 319.] Mr. Sherman to Count Vinci. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Referring to the Department's note of the 5th instant, I have the honor to inclose for your information copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury stating that his order abolishing the Italian bureau at the immigration station at the port of New York has been temporarily suspended. Accept, etc., JOHN SHERMAN. [Inclosure in No. 319.] Mr. Gage to Mr. Sherman. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, SIR: I have the honor to inform you that, in consequence of the representations of your letter of the 2d instant and of the telegram from Hon. William F. Draper, our ambassador to Italy, the order of March 25, 1898, abolishing the Italian bureau at the immigration station at the port of New York, to take effect on the 15th instant, has been temporarily suspended. Respectfully, yours, L. J. GAGE, Secretary. Mr. Day to Baron Fava. No. 341.] WASHINGTON, June 6, 1898. EXCELLENCY: Referring to the Department's note No. 314, of March 31 last, I have the honor to inform you that after the oral explanations made by you in our interviews, and upon consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, it is understood that the Italian immigration bureau will be allowed to remain at Ellis Island upon the same conditions as stated in the letter addressed to your excellency by the Treasury Department of June 13, 1894. Accept, etc., WILLIAM R. DAY. DESECRATION OF THE NATIONAL FLAG. Mr. Draper to Mr. Day. No. 212.] EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR Referring to your instruction No. 130, of March 25 last, directing me to obtain and forward to the Department copies of any Italian laws which might be in force to prevent the use of the Italian flag for advertising purposes, I beg leave to say that I am informed by the minister for foreign affairs that there are no legislative enactments expressly forbidding the use of the flag for such purposes. It is none the less understood, however, that no such use of it would be permitted, on account of the lofty meaning and character attached to said flag as the emblem of honor representing the nation. I have, etc., WILLIAM F. DRAPER. No. 113.] PRESENTATIONS AT COURT. Mr. Draper to Mr. Sherman. EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Referring to my dispatch No. 112, of February 12, in which I described the diplomatic reception held annually at the Palace, the next ceremony that it is important for the chief of mission in Rome to understand about in detail is the presentation of his fellow-countrymen Prior to leaving America I was told by the preceding ambassador that this function caused him more embarrassment than any other one duty assigned him; and on my arrival last June I found, even at that time, applications from American ladies desiring presentation the coming winter. at court. These applications increased in number until, when the opportunity for presentation came, I had about sixty names on the list. The num ber to be presented by the American ambassador is nominally limited to sixteen; but the pressure has been so great that the ceremony on January 24, just passed, there were actually presented twenty-six. The limitation I understand to be for Americans only, as from most Europcan countries the only eligible persons are those who have been presented at the court of their own sovereign, which makes a small number to select from; while any one of our seventy-five millions of people who visit Rome considers himself, or especially herself, eligible. It being impossible to present, or recommend for presentation, all of my fellowcitizens who made the request, I sought from the court chamberlain such rules as, in his judgment, should govern a choice. They were substantially as follows: First. No Americans can be presented without the recommendation of the American ambassador. Second. Such as are presented must be known to him or recommended to him as of high character and position. Outside these conditions the matter is left to his discretion. As everyone applying was highly recommended and presumably of good character, I was compelled to make for myself the following additional rules, on which I have acted: First. I gave preference to gentlemen in official position under the American Government and members of their families. Second. To those bringing letters from the Secretary of State. Third. To other parties where the ladies desiring presentation were accompanied by a gentleman of their family. This last division was made on account of an intimation received by me that it was desirable that American men, as well as women, should be presented. Nothing can make an ambassador more unpopular among his traveling countrymen than the necessity of such a choice as must be made here for court presentation, and no duty, as my predecessor intimated in his own case, has brought upon me so much pressure. If the rules that I have laid down above are not complete guides for my successors they will at least indicate to the Department the lines upon which I have acted if complaint is made in any case. Coming to the ceremonial, I received from the dean of the diplomatic corps, M. Billot, the ambassador of France, on January 15, a letter, copy of which is inclosed with a translation. After receiving it I forwarded the selected list, enlarged by permission, to the Marquise di Villamarina and the Marquis Guiccioli, respectively. The officials com municated by letter with each of the persons recommended, and on January 24 the presentation took place. The ambassador is never present on these occasions, which are conducted by the officials of the court just mentioned. It is intimated that there has been such a demand this year that still another opportunity will be given. It may be fair to say that the pressure for presentation does not indicate simply a desire to meet royalty, as the honor secures an invitation to court balls and is supposed to open the door to other social functions. I have, etc., WILLIAM F. DRAPER. [Inclosure No. 1 in dispatch No. 113, of February 3, 1898--Translation.] EMBASSY OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, The ambassador of the French Republic, dean of the diplomatic corps, has the honor to notify his colleagues that Her Majesty the Queen, as in former years, will hold, Monday, the 24th of January, at 10 o'clock in the evening, a reception for the presentation of strangers of distinction who shall have expressed the desire to be admitted to the court. The request should be addressed, through the medium of the chiefs of mission before the 20th of January for ladies alone or accompanied by their husband or members of their family, to her excellency the Marquise di Villamarina, dame of honor to Her Majesty; for gentlemen to the Marquis Guiccioli, gentleman of honor. No. 124.] CONSULAR INSPECTION OF EMIGRANTS. Mr. Draper to Mr. Sherman. EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to inform you that some time ago, at the request of the United States consul at Naples, I asked, through the foreign office, that the "consular inspection" (using the words quoted) of emigrants for the United States at that port, which heretofore had been usually made in the open air, might henceforth take place in the Government's shed, and also suggested that the consular and the gov ernmental examinations might well be simultaneous. Both arrangements, as was stated by the consul-general at Rome, would conduce greatly to the health and comfort of all concerned. The Italian foreign office promptly granted these requests in a note, of which I send you herewith a copy, with translation, but asked in behalf of their emigration officials that the examination of emigrants' luggage should actu ally be made by the consul, the vice consul, or the chancellor of the consulate, excluding all other persons; that the practice should be followed, not only at Naples, but at Palermo and Genoa; and that the examinations should be not only simultaneous, but upon agreement by the consul and the Government committee. On their face these requests from the Italian authorities seemed reasonable, and I caused their suggestions to be made known to the United States consuls at Naples, Genoa, and Palermo, through the consul-general in Rome. You will note by the replies from these officials, copies of which I inclose, that they raise certain objections to the propositions of the Government's agents. As I have no authority in such a situation, I refer the matter to the State Department for further instructions, assuring the foreign office that their requests would have careful attention. If the wishes of the foreign office are found reasonable in your view, I shall be glad if the arrangements mentioned can be made, because the Italian Government, having granted us a favor in this matter, it seems ungracious not to reciprocate unless these are good reasons for refusing. I am, sir, etc., WILLIAM F. DRAPER. [Inclosure 1 in No. 124.] Marquis Viscounti Venosta to Mr. Draper. MR. AMBASSADOR: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, I have carefully examined and have communicated to the ministry of the navy the note which your excellency was pleased to address to me on December 7 last, requesting: That the consul at Naples be allowed to inspect the luggage of the emigrants leaving for the United States in the shed which will be destined to shelter the emigrants during the inspection made by the royal authorities; that the inspection made by the consul and that made by the Government may take place simultaneously. In the name of my colleague of the navy I am now happy to say that I can give your excellency an affirmative answer. I beg leave to add a few considerations which will give a better order to the above-mentioned proceedings. It is known that the consuls of the United States inspect at present in the ports of the Kingdom the luggage of the emigrants, either personally or by the means of delegates. The latter way occasionally caused inconveniences, as the delegates were not always fit to fulfill the duty intrusted to them. I therefore deem it advisable that the inspection be made, henceforth, not only in the port of Naples but also in those of Palermo and Genoa, either by the United States consul, vice consul, or by the chancellor of the consulate and excluding any other person. And as the two Governments agree in their wish that the emigrants should go to the United States in hygienic conditions, it is also my belief as well as that of my colleague of the navy that the inspection of the luggage of the emigrants be made not only simultaneously but also upon agreement by the United States consul and by the Government committee. Your excellency will doubtless perceive how much more usefully and rapidly such an inspection would be accomplished, and how much easier a duty it would be to accomplish for those who inspect and for those who are inspected. If your excellency deems it advisable to adopt the new system in the ports of Palermo, Genoa, and Naples, I beg you to inform me, that the necessary instructions be given to the proper authorities. |