Mr. Draper to Mr. Sherman.
Borne, Italy, February 3, 1898.
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 112, of February 12, in which I described the diplomatic reception held annually at the Palace, the next ceremony that it is important for the chief of mission in Rome to understand about in detail is the presentation of his fellow-countrymen at court. Prior to leaving America I was told by the preceding ambassador that this function caused him more embarrassment than any other one duty assigned him; and on my arrival last June I found, even at that time, applications from American ladies desiring presentation the coming winter.
These applications increased in number until, when the opportunity for presentation came, I had about sixty names on the list. The number to be presented by the American ambassador is nominally limited to sixteen; but the pressure has been so great that the ceremony on January 24, just passed, there were actually presented twenty-six. The limitation I understand to be for Americans only, as from most European countries the only eligible persons are those who have been presented at the court of their own sovereign, which makes a small number to select from; while any one of our seventy-five millions of people who visit Rome considers himself, or especially herself, eligible. It being impossible to present, or recommend for presentation, all of my fellow-citizens who made the request, I sought from the court chamberlain such rules as, in his judgment, should govern a choice. They were substantially as follows:
- First. No Americans can be presented without the recommendation of the American ambassador.
- Second. Such as are presented must be known to him or recommended to him as of high character and position. Outside these conditions the matter is left to his discretion.
As everyone applying was highly recommended and presumably of good character, I was compelled to make for myself the following additional rules, on which I have acted:
- First. I gave preference to gentlemen in official position under the American Government and members of their families.
- Second. To those bringing letters from the Secretary of State.
- Third. To other parties where the ladies desiring presentation were accompanied by a gentleman of their family. This last division was made on account of an intimation received by me that it was desirable that American men, as well as women, should be presented.
Nothing can make an ambassador more unpopular among his traveling countrymen than the necessity of such a choice as must be made here for court presentation, and no duty, as my predecessor intimated in his own case, has brought upon me so much pressure. If the rules that I have laid down above are not complete guides for my successors they will at least indicate to the Department the lines upon which I have acted if complaint is made in any case.
Coming to the ceremonial, I received from the dean of the diplomatic corps, M. Billot, the ambassador of France, on January 15, a letter, copy of which is inclosed with a translation. After receiving it I forwarded the selected list, enlarged by permission, to the Marquise di Villamarina and the Marquis Guiccioli, respectively. The officials communicated [Page 411] by letter with each of the persons recommended, and on January 24 the presentation took place. The ambassador is never present on these occasions, which are conducted by the officials of the court just mentioned. It is intimated that there has been such a demand this year that still another opportunity will be given.
It may be fair to say that the pressure for presentation does not indicate simply a desire to meet royalty, as the honor secures an invitation to court balls and is supposed to open the door to other social functions.
I have, etc.,