Mr. Draper to Mr. Hay.
Rome, Italy, December 8, 1899.
Sir: I have the honor to report that yesterday afternoon I received from the minister for foreign affairs, the Marquis Visconti Venosta, a [Page 434] personal note, a translation of which I inclose, together with certain quotations from the original. The telegram from Baron Fava, which the minister refers to, stated that, in spite of his earnest exertions to induce the Secretary of the Treasury to suspend the abolition of the Italian Emigration Bureau, the Secretary of State had written to the ambassador that, after mature examination, the Government did not think it expedient to revoke the abolition. On receipt of this note I telegraphed you as follows:
(Confidential.)
Minister for foreign affairs tells me he has received dispatch from Fava, saying that our Government has informed him that it does not deem it expedient to reconsider the determination to abolish Ellis Island bureau. Is this correct? Minister for foreign affairs also requests me to ask by telegraph if a delay can not be granted at least until he can be made acquainted with reasons for abolishing the bureau. I can not conceal from you my fear that the amicable relations between the two countries will be affected if this request be not granted.
I sincerely hope that this request for delay will be granted. I fear that the strong Italian sentiment involved in the question is not fully understood or appreciated in Washington. Should not consideration be given to the combined effects of the Tallulah lynching and the abolishment of the Ellis Island bureau? I believe that to decline to grant the delay asked for will cause a feeling with the Italian Government, whether justifiable or not, that it has not been courteously treated, and that the refusal will have a detrimental effect on our relations with Italy in many directions. I am not informed as to the facts and arguments on the other side, but I think it my duty to describe the situation here clearly and emphatically.
I have, etc.,