Mr. Porter to Mr. Blaine.
Rome, April 3, 1891. (Received April 17.)
Sir: I called on the Marquis di Rudini yesterday to pay my respects, to refer to the interview with Count d’Arco, mentioned in my dispatch No. 180 of the 1st instant, and to satisfy myself that the substance of what had been said had been accurately reported to the minister and was clearly understood. His manner was most kind and friendly, and he seemed fully to comprehend the constitutional difficulty which prevented the Federal Government from proceeding with the haste which [Page 682] was desired. He stated, however, that Baron Fava had been recalled, and that this was the least that could be done under the circumstances, but added that the charge d’affaires had been left in his place.
I reiterated my previous expressions of confidence that in the end it would be perceived that the Federal Government had diligently exercised all the authority with which it was clothed to bring the New Orleans offenders to justice, and that the Government of Italy would be satisfied that it had acted with the highest good faith and the utmost earnestness.
I have, etc.,