No. 195.
Mr. Francis to Mr. Fish.
Athens, February 10, 1873. (Received March. 24.)
Sir: On Tuesday, the 28th ultimo, an Italian refugee, named Lorenzo Caratacciolo, residing at Corfu, was decoyed on board the Italian mail steamer, then in that port. It was represented to him that a relative [Page 433] on board desired to see him. Caratacciolo had lived some four years in Corfu. He was in business there, and bore the reputation of a sober, industrious, respectable man. As soon as he reached the steamer he was seized by Italian officers and put in irons. The occurrence was in a short time reported on shore. The Greek authorities at once requested the Italian consul to order the release of Caratacciolo. He declined to do so. Subsequently, under instructions from the Greek prime minister at Athens, the chief of police, with a few men of his force, went on board the steamer and formally demanded the delivery of the prisoner into their hands. The captain declined to surrender him, saying that he would resist with, all the power at his command any effort that might be made to release the man. The Greek officers were not authorized to adopt violent measures for the enforcement of the demand. The steamer soon sailed, carrying away Caratacciolo, who is now confined in an Italian jail, awaiting, it is said, a trial for murder, alleged to have been committed by him some five years ago.
Mr. Delegeorges, the Greek minister of foreign affairs, addressed a communication to the Italian minister here, Mr. Migliorati, demanding that Caratacciolo should be safely returned to Corfu. Mr. Migliorati replied that he had nothing to do with the case, and should take no action in the matter. What other steps have been or are likely to be taken by the Greek government in this affair I am not advised. It has been suggested that there might be an appeal to the protecting powers (Russia, England, and France) to enforce against Italy a demand for the surrender of the kidnapped man. In conversation with me on the subject, Mr. Delegeorges said:
“This transaction only proves that small powers have no rights. As to the protecting powers, so called, they long since ceased to give us protection or show us mercy.”
The public feeling, especially at Corfu, is deeply incensed on account of the alleged kidnapping, the particulars of which, as I have detailed them, were orally communicated to me by Mr. Delegeorges, and also by Mr. Stuart, the British minister here, who received the information by telegraph from Baron Seabury, the British consul at Corfu.
I am, &c.,