No. 123.
Marquis de
Noailles to Mr. Fish.
[Translation.]
Legation of
France in the United States,
Washington, July 12, 1873.
(Received July 15.)
Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor herewith
to transmit to your excellency a copy of a dispatch which I have just
received from my government. It appears from this dispatch that the Italian
government
[Page 272]
is not disposed to
ratify the draft of a convention proposed by the minister of Italy in Japan,
and rejects the conditions proposed for the free travel of foreigners in the
interior of that empire.
I have thought that your excellency would learn this decision of the Italian
government not without interest.
Be pleased to accept, &c.
Duke de Broglie to
Marquis de Noailles.
Versailles, June 19,
1873.
Marquis: On the 9th ultimo my predecessor
stated to you the considerations which had induced him to instruct the
minister of France at Rome to endeavor to prevent the ratification, on
the part of the Italian government, of a draft of a convention prepared
by the representative of Italy in Japan, providing for the free travel
of Italian citizens in the provinces of the interior.
We have not been alone in regarding the concession made by this agent as
dangerous, and the cabinet of London and that of the Hague having joined
us in advising the Italian government not to sacrifice the right of
jurisdiction over its citizens, it appears, from the reply of M.
Fournier, that the cabinet of Rome, sharing our view of the case, will
refuse to accept the conditions proposed by the projected convention as
a basis of free travel in the interior of the country. The United States
would undoubtedly have regretted, as we should have done, to see a
privilege which is still so necessary abandoned by one of the powers
represented in Japan, and, thinking that the Secretary of State will be
glad to learn the decision which has been reached at Rome, I hasten to
bring it to your knowledge.
Receive, marquis, the assurances of my high consideration.
