Premier Giolitti, in speaking of the American people’s generosity, said:
“What the United States has done on this occasion is magnificent, and shall not be forgotten. The United States stands first, outdistancing all others in sympathy and generosity.
“Our gratitude is so great that we cannot find words in which to express it. Besides, appreciation on our part is heightened by the fact that so many of our compatriots have found hospitality in America.
“With us it is traditional to consider Americans, who visit Italy in such great numbers, as our best friends, since we love their country and their race, because of its liberal organization and its progressive principles.”
Signor Tittoni, the foreign minister, said: “Never before on any occasion has occurred such a demonstration of sympathy as that of America. It includes all classes and conditions from the President to the humblest citizen. Nothing could more tightly bind together the two countries or render their friendship closer.”
SOLIDARITY OF RED CROSS SOCIETIES.
In a letter of February 2nd to the Central Committee of the American Red Cross from M. Ador, Vice-President of the International Red Cross Committee of Geneva, he says:
“The large contributions received by you for the victims of the earthquake in Sicily and Calabria are a splendid testimony of your benevolent activity and the solidarity which unites our Societies of the Red Cross in times of peace as in times of war.”
THE POPE’S BLESSING AND THANKS.
The following is a copy of a newspaper clipping relative to the disbanding of the American Relief Committee, at a meeting of which Mr. Samuel L. Parrish stated that the Pope had bestowed his blessing upon the American Society: