Baron Fava to Mr. Hay.
Washington, D. C. , November 30, 1899 .
Mr. Secretary: Referring to the note dated yesterday, in which I had the honor to request once more your good offices to the end that the measure suddenly taken by the Department of the Treasury for the abolition of the Italian bureau of emigration may be suspended, I take this opportunity to inform you that, by telegram, dated this day, His Excellency the Marquis Visconti Venosta, minister of foreign affairs of the Kingdom, has charged me to express to your excellency the painful surprise which this abolition and the manner in which it was decided have caused the Italian Government.
In instructing me to insist energetically in your Department that the measure in question should be suspended so that, with a common accord, a satisfactory solution of the difference may afterwards be sought, the Marquis Visconti Venosta makes no concealment of the regrettable effect which the abolition of the said bureau, if it is maintained, would necessarily produce from the point of view of the good relations existing between our two countries.
It is not necessary, Mr. Secretary of State, that I should say to you how much I should be gratified personally if I could reassure my Government in regard to the friendly intentions of the Cabinet at Washington, in the sense of the demands which I have been charged to herewith renew.
Please accept, etc.,