File No. 2976/18.
Memorandum to the Italian Embassy.
Washington, March 16, 1908.
The Department of State has received a letter from the governor of Kentucky, dated the 24th ultimo, in which he refers to the memorandum of the Italian embassy, dated February 15 last, and makes the following statement in regard to the danger apprehended by the Italian Government to tobacco held at Hopkinsville, Ky.:
Precautions have been continued ever since the former request, and a force is still on duty at Hopkinsville and recently increased, and everything possible is being done to ascertain in advance any damage to the property of the Italian Government. Mr. Hodge is one of the most intelligent and thoughtful of men, and we have been ready to respond to any information or appeal from him very promptly. There is some probability that this troublesome situation will lose its chief provocation this week, as it is believed now that the tobacco has been sold.
The last part of the memorandum of the Italian Government, on the second page, recites that His Majesty’s Government, having four large tobacco factories in Kentucky, Clarksville, Springfield, Martin, and Paris, evidently mistakes Kentucky for Tennessee, and this should be changed. It will not need any correction to me.
The memorandum of the Italian embassy was also communicated on February 20 last to the governor of Tennessee.