No. 394.
Baron Fava to Mr.
Bayard.
Washington, April 20,
1885.
My Dear Mr. Bayard: His excellency the Italian
minister for foreign affairs, to whom I hastened to communicate the
contents of your personal of the 17th instant, for which I beg to renew
my best thanks to you, has addressed to me the cablegram that I have the
honor to inclose herewith.
The deep sympathies existing in Italy toward the United States, of which
my Government has been always eager to give constant proofs, prompt Mr.
Mancini to trust that his considerations will be received and
appreciated by the President and by you with that spirit of justice, of
high benevolence, and friendship which have always been and are at
present proper of the American Government. Making accordingly a warm
appeal to such sentiments, his excellency hopes that, in the common
interest that we cherish so much to have in Italy a United States
representative who might effectively strive to confirm ever more the
excellent relations happily existing between the two countries, the
United States Government will be willing to bestow upon us a new proof
of sincere amity in appointing another candidate as its representative
in Rome instead of Mr. Keiley.
Mr. Mancini, to whom I most cordially join, expects with the utmost
confidence the decision which his Excellency the President will be
pleased to take upon the subject and the reply that your excellency will
be kind enough to communicate to me.
I am, &c.,
[Page 552]
[Inclosure.—Telegram.—Translation.]
Mr. Mancini to
Baron Fava.
Italian Minister, Washington:
I beg you to present, my thanks to the Secretary of State for having
consented to delay Mr. Keiley’s departure. We afforded sufficient
proofs of our strong sympathy with the United States, that we might
expect a just and benevolent appreciation of the considerations
which dictate our present action. Whatever Mr. Keiley’s sentiments
may be, and without doubting by any means his high respectability,
it is impossible (if his former conduct is really the one remembered
by the American newspapers) that he might be persona grata to our King, and he might find himself in an
unpleasant position in a country whose lawful feelings have been
hurt by his utterances in the year 1871. It is therefore in behalf
of the common interest we have that the representative of the United
States here should be so situated as to be able to effectively and
successfully exert himself in strengthening the excellent relations
existing between the two countries, that we must sincerely state the
impossibility we should experience in making Mr. Keiley’s selection
acceptable to His Majesty, and that we address a warm appeal to the
good amity of the American Government in order that it might oblige
us by appointing another candidate to Rime. The change of Mr.
Keiley’s destination would save us the painful necessity to insist
with the Washington Cabinet upon the reasons which indeed ought to
render such a nomination unadvisable. I expect with confidence the
President’s decision and the reply of the Secretary of State, which
you will please let me know at once by telegram.
