El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-04-25
FOREIGN H0N0RS
FOR
How They May Be Received
And What the Laws
Are About Them.

Washington. D. c.. April est is
generally known that during the war
many Americans received decorations
and the titles that go with them, from
foreign governments; and there seems
to be an impression abroad in some
quarters that these hitherto humble
American citizens now have the right
to be addressed as sir or lord. and TO
have their titles written after their
names
II this were true. Gen PershinE.
when signing his name in full. would
need several sheets OF paper and an
extra secretary TO do the work Of af-
fixing titles. for he received decora-
ltions galore.
As a matter Of fact, Gen Pershing.
went over as John J. Pershing. and he
viii return with the same set Of names
.unadOrned by extra initials or pre-
fixes The same is true OF all of our
other decorated men The medals they
can wear. The title, never having
been bestowed. they have no claim
to It.
Mystery OF Titles
The mystery OF the title is explained
this way. When king George makes
Gen John Pershing a member Of the
Order of the Bath. he presents him
with the medal Of the order and makes
a speech Of presentation It is COM
plimentary honor which he is con-
terring. similar to an honorary mem
bershiD in an organization To be-
come q knight. and receive a title.
Gen Pershing would have to go
through the ceremony OF the accolade
in which the candidate kneels and is
tapped on the shoulder with a sword
by the king. as the knights were in
the feudal days. An American citizen
who would go through with this pro-
ceeding in a foreign court would
thereby renounce his American citi-
zenship. as he would vow fealty to the
king comforting the title
As the constitution now STANDS, Il
provides tha+ NO title of nobility
shall be granted by the United States.
And no person holding any office OF
profit or trust under them shall, with
out the consent Of the congress, &C
cept OF any present. emolument, office
or title Of any kind whatever from
any king, prince, or foreign state"
when Citizens Are Decorated.
This statement does not prevent
United States citizens who do not hold
office from accepting such honors. and
il has a loophole which gives con-
gress power TO sanction any foreign
honor offered to an office holder.
The reason for this clause in the
constitution was that diplomatic Off
Gals were accustomed to receive gifts
from the governments 10 which they
were sent When an ambassador left
a post. a grateful monarch pinned
decoration on him in recognition OF
his services, and in order that the
diplomat might remember the country
pleasantly. the sovereign often made
a triflinE gift worth anywhere from a
few hundred to a few thousand dol
lars These gifts did not always en-
barrass the diplomats. but congress
and the people OF the United States.
fresh from a revolution. were radi-
caIly opposed to anything that savored
Of nobility, or foreign favors, and so
the clause was inserted as it now
stands.
Soon. however. the consent OF con-
gress was being asked for this worthy
and that TO receive a gold
lOcket and chain or some other gift
appropriate % his services, offered
by an insistent ruler. while private
citizens were being frequently hon