The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-09-04
Foreign Decorations
From the Providence Journal.

According to announcement by the war de- partment "the war is over," as regards the special grant to persons 'holding any office of profit or trust under the United States" of the privilege of accepting "any present, emeument, office title of any kind what ever, from any king, prince or foreign state
 The constitutional prohibition on the re- ceipt of tributes from foreign governments Vr rulers may be suspended by act of Congress, but prior to the World war it never had been. The emergency anticipated at that time was that sundry kings, princes and foreign states among the allies would desire to confer deco rations on our soldiers, sailors, marines and persons associated with auxiliary organiza- tons. Congress, accordingly, in of the many war enactments gave blanket consent for their acceptance.
 The framers of the constitution thought a good deal of this mandate forbidding ac- ceptanee of foreign honors--so the republic would be secured against sinister influences. It was one of the safeguards of the young democracy from the "evils of aristecracy.' This restriction is provided to prevent cor ruption," said John Randolph, having in mind that the duties of American ministers brought them into dangerous contact with royal courts --there were more of the latter then than now. It was expected to prove helpful to our sturdy representatives, too. Quoting the con- stitution of their country, they could defy temptation. Dr. Franklin had accepted 9 golden snuff box from the King of France, Louis XVI was our devoted ally, to be true, but the precedent was fraught with menace for the future.
 n,1w aJf Iarx rd iubf d1oa embarrassing, even prievous situations; inas- much as, while American officials arA forbid. den to receive tributes of foreign esteem, kings princes and foreign states cannot be forbidden to proffer them. It was early real ized, however, that it would not do to assume an ungracious attitude in such cases. Our rep resentatves are not required to spurn these honors. They are accepted with becoming courtesy-and then turned over to the goy. ernment at Washington. There has been 2 single exception to this accommodating prac- tice. An African monarch, grateful for some service performed by one of our consuls, made him a heartfelt gift of lion. The consul did not ship the lion to Washington, for stor- age with other forbidden presents, but con- tented himself with calling on his government to send him funds to feed it.
 At intervals Congress enacts special law for distributing the accumulation of gifts to the persons on whom they have been be- slowed, or their heirs or assigns. As a result of the suspension of the constitutional pro- vision 17,787 decorations from the allied gov ernments are possessed by Americans who served in the World war. The Croix de Guerre, for instance, was conferred by France on H. 591 of our veterans. Many were received on the field of battle and more have been dis- tributed since the armistice-some within ths past few days. The date for the expiration of the concession having now expired, future awards must be rendered through or given into the keeping of the state department, from which individual recipients will be able to get them only with the express consent of Congress-