The New York herald., 1922-06-09
rice! EXPLANATION
IS NOT SATISFACTORY
Neither Tariff Uttcrances Nor
Manner Used Pleases
Administration.
PRECEDENTS ARE QUOTED
Two EnvOys to U. S. We're
Disciplined for Handling
Domestic Issues.
Special Dispatch 10 THE NEw YosB HEaALp.
New York Herald Hur.a..

Special Dispatch TO THE NEW Yoss HEaALp.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c.. June 3.
The latest public statement of Am
bassador Ricci Of Italy. defending his
public discussions OF the tsriff in this
country. to which exception was taken
on the floor of the Senate by Senator
Watson (Ind), has made the issue
one of international interest.
1t became known to-day that AM
bassador Ricci did not consult with
Secretary of state Hughes before
making his public statement yester-
day.
State Department officials refused
to make any official comment, but 1t
was made known in official quarters
that neither the Italian Ambassadors
explanation of his recent utterances
nor his manner of making It, is salts
factory TO the Administration.
The statement of tho Ambassador that
the tariff was an International matter,
and therefore one he had right TO dis
cuss in public utterances, was fatty de-
MED by officials OF the Government,
who say with emphasis the tariff is a
domestic matter, and therefore not
proper TO be publicly discussed by AM
bassadors.
Officials CT the Administration ex-
plain that when an Ambassador speaks
his Government speaks Accordingly. no
discussion CT domestic question like
the tariff could be INDUCED in by an
Amba ssador without having it appear
that his Government had undertaken to
appeal to the American public.
The refusal Of state Department Off
cials 10 discuss the matter save no ink
ling of what course would be adopted,
although II Is expected some oognizance
of the Ambassadors insistence upon his
right to discuss the tariff will be taken
Authorities on diplomatic precedents
pointed out that insistence upon non
interference In American affairs by for
eign diplomatic representatives Is one
Of the cardinal principles of the Amer
lean Government. IL was exemplified
in che Administration OF George wash
ington, when the French Ambassador.
Genet was disciplined for appealing to
the public over the heads of the Gov
ernment. and again in the Cleveland
Administration when the British AM
bassador, SackvilleWest, was recalled
at the request of the President for
similar activities.
American diplomatic representatives
abroad have definite instructions not to
discuss matters OF internal interest. 1t
Is assumed diplomatic representatives
here are familiar with this rule.
II Is pointed out that even interna-
tionsl questions sometimes have national
angles and that in any event. when
nation wishes to make representa- tions
concerning the international effect OF
national legislation II can approach the
responsible heads OF che Government
informally. at any time.
The proper place for any expression
OF opinion on such questions as the
tariff would be the State Department.
Senator Watson. vino FIRST called pub
lie attention 10 the activities OF both
the British and Italian Ambassa dors
had no further comment TO make. as
sumlng the matter now to be one for the
State Department to handle.
No further question has been raised
concerning the alleged public utterances
OF the British Ambassador, Sir Auckland
Geddes. and II is assumed that in his
case the INCIDENT Is closed The in
slstence by ambassador Ricci however.
that he has a right to discuss the tariff
Is quite another matter.
Officials at the Italian Embassy made
no further statement on the matter. In
diplomatic circles II was rumored that
Ambassador Ricci was planning to leave
this country shortly on vacation. and Il
was intlmated his plans do not call for a
return to his post in Washington
Several Republican leaders In the Sem
ate said that Senator Watson did not
use all the material In his possession
showing interference in American af-
fairs by foreign representatives. and IL
the question develops further this ad-
ditional data might be made public.