Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-07
Plan TO SILENCE
FOREIGN CRITICS
Diplomatic Opposition to Pend
Ing U. s. Legislation Must
Stop, Harding Decides
CEDDES AND HUGHES MEET

washington, June T.-Ihe tiard-
Nc Administration Is determined
- stop foreign diplomatic rep
resentatives from publicly opposing
pending tariff and ship subsidy legisla-
tion. but there is no indication that
charges of Senator Watson. of Indiana,
Involving the British and Italian Am
bassadors, will be made the basis OF
m international incident.
The fact that Mr.. Watson. an Ad.
sninistration leader in the Senate.
voiced the Government displeasure Of
the manner in which Sir Auckland
Ceddes, Ambassador Rolandi Ricci and
several British and French consular
agents have discussed the proposed
tarif is regarded as sufficient Tip"
10 diplomats to refrain from further
public remarks on the subject.
II Senator Watson's speech has the
desired effect the matter will 60 M
further. and there was every indication
bore the result hoped for by the
Administration had been obtained.
The British Ambassador called at the
0&ate Department in the afternoon and
conferred for some time with Secretary
Hughes. Neither Sir Auckland nor MIR.
4pshes would discuss the conference.
It is understood the Italian Ambas-
bsdor also will confer with Secretary
Hughes, probably today, and the
Incident, II the plans of the Administra-
Sir Auckland May Not Return
Ssmstor Watson's reference to Am
bessador Geddes' Chicago speech, In
which the Britisher referred to the pro-
Dooed tariff as "barrier' to trade be-
tween the United States and Great
9x4eain, served yesterday to revive the
story that Sir Auckland would not re-
turn to Washington following his an
Nothing official. however. was obtain
able at the British Embassy beyond con-
Armation of the recent London report
that the Ambassador expected 10 sail
from the United States shortly on sew
e1al months leave.
Information used by Senator Watson
n his address, it Is understood. was
compiled by the Republican National
Committee, and has been placed in the
hands Of ether Republican leaders,, in
cluding Senator Lodge, chairman of the
Foreign Relations Committee. Appar-
emily, the Administrations move was
On the part of foreign representatives
BY simply calling the attention of the
American public tn the fact that their
opposition was taking on the aspect of
propaganda.
American diplomatic representatives
n foreign countries are bound by Fed
}fal statute to refrain from interference
IN political and Government questions
of the countries to which they are ac-
credited. No American statute. how
ever. covers the case of foreign repre-
sentativcs here. The procedure in the
ease Of a diplomatic representative who
makes nimself obnoxious to the country
% which he Is accredited usually is 2
request for his recall.
Charges Erroneous Report
The British Ambassador feels that
ids recent public reference to the
American merchant marine and other
matters referred to by Senator Wat
eon, Of Indiana. in his tariff speech
IN the Senate was enormously
described, and has shown to Sec.
rotary Hughes stenographic copy of
bis address in Chicago.
The reference to the merchant marine.
according to the stenographic report,
WAS as follows:
"Another large part of the British
purchases in this country was paid for
through credits established on account
Of services rendered by the British mer :.
camille marine, by British insurance
companies, by education given in Brit
ain and in other less important ways.
There is a great change, again as a
result ok the war, now taking place in
connection with the rendering of those
services. You, in your own interests,
ara building up great merchant ma
rine.. 1t is, Of course, your right to do
90; but let us remember that when il
comes to the question of the balance
Of trade between the countries, TIM,
means there will be diminished credits
dollar credits-for the British to pur
chaaA your goods within this country ;,