Mr. Draper to Mr.
Sherman.
Embassy
of the United States,
Rome,
Italy, February 17,
1898.
No. 124.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that some
time ago, at the request of the United States consul at Naples, I asked,
through the foreign office, that the “consular inspection” (using the
words quoted) of emigrants for the United States at that port, which
heretofore had been usually made in the open air, might henceforth take
place in the Government’s shed, and also suggested that the consular and
the governmental examinations might well be simultaneous. Both
arrangements, as was stated by the consul-general at Rome, would conduce
greatly to the health and comfort of all concerned. The Italian foreign
office promptly granted these requests in a note, of which I send you
herewith a copy, with translation, but asked in behalf of their
emigration officials that the examination of emigrants’ luggage should
actually be made by the consul, the vice consul, or the chancellor of
the consulate, excluding all other persons; that the practice should be
followed, not only at Naples, but at Palermo and Genoa; and that the
examinations should be not only simultaneous, but upon agreement by the
consul and the Government committee.
On their face these requests from the Italian authorities seemed
reasonable, and I caused their suggestions to be made known to the
[Page 412]
United States consuls at
Naples, Genoa, and Palermo, through the consul-general in Rome. You will
note by the replies from these officials, copies of which I inclose,
that they raise certain objections to the propositions of the
Government’s agents. As I have no authority in such a situation, I refer
the matter to the State Department for further instructions, assuring
the foreign office that their requests would have careful attention. If
the wishes of the foreign office are found reasonable in your view, I
shall be glad if the arrangements mentioned can be made, because the
Italian Government, having granted us a favor in this matter, it seems
ungracious not to reciprocate unless these are good reasons for
refusing.
I am, sir, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
124.]
Marquis Viscounti
Venosta to Mr. Draper.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Rome, Italy, January, 1898.
Mr. Ambassador:
I have carefully examined and have communicated to the ministry of
the navy the note which your excellency was pleased to address to me
on December 7 last, requesting:
That the consul at Naples be allowed to inspect the luggage of the
emigrants leaving for the United States in the shed which will be
destined to shelter the emigrants during the inspection made by the
royal authorities; that the inspection made by the consul and that
made by the Government may take place simultaneously.
In the name of my colleague of the navy I am now happy to say that I
can give your excellency an affirmative answer.
I beg leave to add a few considerations which will give a better
order to the above mentioned proceedings.
It is known that the consuls of the United States inspect at present
in the ports of the Kingdom the luggage of the emigrants, either
personally or by the means of delegates.
The latter way occasionally caused inconveniences, as the delegates
were not always fit to fulfill the duty intrusted to them.
I therefore deem it advisable that the inspection be made,
henceforth, not only in the port of Naples but also in those of
Palermo and Genoa, either by the United States consul, vice consul,
or by the chancellor of the consulate and excluding any other
person.
And as the two Governments agree in their wish that the emigrants
should go to the United States in hygienic conditions, it is also my
belief as well as that of my colleague of the navy that the
inspection of the luggage of the emigrants be made not only
simultaneously but also upon agreement by the United States consul
and by the Government committee.
Your excellency will doubtless perceive how much more usefully and
rapidly such an inspection would be accomplished, and how much
easier a duty it would be to accomplish for those who inspect and
for those who are inspected.
If your excellency deems it advisable to adopt the new system in the
ports of Palermo, Genoa, and Naples, I beg you to inform me, that
the necessary instructions be given to the proper authorities.
[Page 413]
I have the honor to offer to your excellency the acts of my highest
consideration.
For the minister:
The Secretary of
State,
Bonin.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
124.]
Mr. Byington to
Mr. De Castro.
Consulate of the United States,
Naples, Italy, February 1, 1898.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your dispatch with the translation of the letter of the
minister for foreign affairs in re the inspection of emigrants.
I beg to inform you that the vice and deputy consul has charge of the
inspection at my post, and that when the chief of the consular
bureau, Mr. R. S. Chilton, jr., made his last inspection of
consulates he praised Mr. Seger’s efficient management most highly,
and urged me, before I left Washington, not to make any changes in
the personnel of the inspection, as he had arranged everything in
regard to it satisfactorily to all parties interested (and added
that it “was the only really thorough inspection that he had seen at
any of the consulates”).
In regard to holding the inspections simultaneously, I think that
this should be left to be arranged between the two commissions, as
most convenient for all concerned, because it would in many cases be
impracticable to perform the duty at the same time.
I am, etc.,
A. H. Byington,
United States Consul.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
124.]
Mr. Fletcher to
Mr. De Castro.
Consulate of the United States,
Genoa, Italy, February 3, 1898.
Sir: The arrival of three United States war
ships in this port at different dates during the past week, and the
consequent demands on my time incident to these events, has made it
almost an impossibility on my part to reply to your letter dated the
29th ultimo until the present moment.
And now, having carefully read the copy of the note of the Italian
minister for foreign affairs, concerning the inspection of
emigrants, which you kindly sent me in said letter, I beg to state
that the utmost harmony exists to-day, as it has for years past,
between the Government officials here and this consulate in the
management of emigration to the United States. Indeed, it is not
more than one year ago, I believe, since the Italian Government, in
a communication to our ambassador, commended most cordially the
“humane and thoughtful” manner in which its poor subjects were
treated by the United States consul at Genoa before they embarked
for the United States.
The same inspector does the work to-day that has done it for years
past, and the consul is also present at the work when possible.
It would not be possible for the vice-consul to attend to inspection
of
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emigrants, for his time
is closely taken up in his own business affairs. Besides, as he
draws no pay from the United States Government, it would be unfair
to demand his services for such work.
Such is the state of affairs here, and I candidly believe the
suggestions of the Italian minister of foreign affairs, even if they
could be carried out in every way, could not make inspection of
emigrants and their baggage more satisfactory than the way
inspection is conducted at present.
I am, etc.,
James Fletcher,
United States Consul.
[Inclosure 4, No. 124.]
Mr. Howe to Mr.
De Castro.
Consulate of the United States,
Palermo, February 2, 1898.
Sir: Referring to yours of January 29,
inclosing translation of note from the minister for foreign affairs
of Italy to our embassy at Rome, relative to changes in mode of
inspection of emigrants leaving for the United States, I can see no
objections to having the inspection performed in the shed
simultaneously with that made by the royal authorities. The
suggestion that the inspection hereafter be made by the United
States consul or vice-consul or by the chancellor (clerk) of the
consulate, and excluding any other person, is wrong and should not
be considered for a moment. To require consuls to personally unpack
and handle the contents of the trunks and boxes of emigrants was
not, in my opinion, contemplated by our Government. The present
regulations allow the consul to employ others to do this work and
the steam ship company pay for the same. In my judgment the consul,
vice-consul, or chancellor of the consulate should be present and
personally supervise the inspection, but they should be allowed at
all times such assistance as in their judgment is necessary, and the
expenses of the same should, as now, be paid by the steamship
company. To prohibit the aid of assistants would result in a much
less thorough inspection than at present.
Good reasons exist for making the inspection more rigid, if anything.
You may not be aware of the fact that while the emigrant pays 136 to
200 lire for his passage to New York the steamship company are now
receiving only 80 lire of this amount.
Under this condition of affairs inspections should be very thorough,
for there are those who are pushing the business not in the
exclusive interests of the poor emigrant.
I have, etc.,
