Washington, D. C., May 17, 1909.
Dear Mr. Ambassador: I have not seen the Literary Digest to which you refer. Permit me to express my deep appreciation of the intention of his majesty’s government to present to me some testimonial in recognition of the American Red Cross work in Italy.
It has been for some time the intention of our society to take under consideration the question of permitting members to receive gifts or testimonials because of any special work of relief in which they have taken part. Therefore, should the plan of his majesty’s government to present to me some testimonial be as yet not so advanced as to cause any embarrassment if not carried out, I would be glad to have it held in abeyance until the question is decided.
But as there exists no regulation of this nature at present, if this plan has been so advanced that my not receiving this testimonial would cause any embarrassment to his majesty’s government, or to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, please take no action in the matter.
Permit me to again express to your excellency my sincere appreciation, and to say whatever should be decided I shall always value the intention of such kindly recognition of the American Red Cross and its work on the part of the Italian government.
Please accept, Mr. Ambassador, the expression of my highest esteem and my heartiest good wishes for the return of prosperity to Sicily and Calabria.
Yours, sincerely,
MABEL T. BOARDMAN.
To this letter the Ambassador replied that the testimonial had already been completed, and he begged that no action against its acceptance be taken.
