No. 394.

Baron Fava to Mr. Bayard .

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.,

FAVA.
[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.

MANCINI.