Office of the Historian

Mr. Day to Mr. Draper.

Department of State,
Washington, May 27, 1898.
No. 189.]

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 124, of February 17, 1898, in regard to the consular inspection of emigrants at Naples by United States and Italian officials.

[Page 415]

I inclose for your information a copy of an instruction addressed to the United States consul at Naples, directing him to cooperate with the Italian authorities in the matter.

You will apprise the Italian Government of the purport of this instruction.

Respectfully, yours,

William R. Day.
[Inclosure in No. 189.]

Mr. Cridler to Mr. Byington.

Department of State,
Washington, May 27, 1898.
No. 19.]

Sir: Our ambassador at Rome has communicated to this Department a request made by the Italian Government that the consular inspection of emigrants for the United States be made by the consul of the United States, or some one from his office, excluding every other person, the inspection to be made simultaneously with that conducted by the Italian officers.

The Department is of the opinion that the arrangement will greatly simplify the inspection of emigrants, and will be productive of fully as effective results as the system now in vogue.

It must be understood that in times when there is no epidemic prevailing the method suggested will presumably suffice, but that in the event of an outbreak of an epidemic disease, or in the event of a shipment from Italian ports of emigrants from other countries which may be infected with epidemic disease, a different procedure may become necessary, particularly should circumstances render it necessary for the detailing of a medical officer of the United States to serve in your office pursuant to the act of Congress approved February 15, 1893. (See U. S. Stat. L., vol. 27, p. 450, sec. 2.)

You are therefore instructed to cooperate with the Italian authorities in this matter, after acquainting them with the character of this instruction, discontinuing the present examination and relying on that made by the Italian officials under your observation or the observation of some one in your office.

Respectfully, yours,

Thos. W. Cridler,
Third Assistant Secretary.