Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-06-09
ITALIAN HOLDS
RIGHT TO TALK
HIS PRIVILEGE
Tariff Matter Grows
Into Delicate
Subject.
WATSON is SILENT
Indiana Senator Is
Turning Inquiries
Away.

WASHINGTON. June e.-Ambassador
Ricci's defiant refusal to refrain IRON
public discussion Of American tarln ies
islati which he holds to be an IN
ternational issue vital to the interests VI
the Italian people, was regarded SO
riously In official quarters as TO give "
reports Secretary o. State Hugnes nao
requested Republican Senators 10 re
frain from replying to the ambassador.
The matter has become .2ne of extreme
delicacy. No other explain alton could De
obtained for the silence at the Capitoi
following Ricci's refusal to retract any
Of his criticism Of the pending tarin
legislation or to concede he violated tho
properties Of procedure among NATIONS
in giving public expression to his views
as to the effect OF the proposed lemon
and olive tariff on Italian industries.
Ambassador Ricci called at the State
Department with the counsellor OF the
italian embassy. He spent about forty
minutes with Secretary Hughes. He de-
clined later to comment on the interview.
The mere fact that Ricci is to leave the
United States shortly and probably re-
enter politics, thereby leaving his post
vacant here, is not regarded as affecting
the issue from a diplomatic standpoint
Senator Ricci plans to sail Tor itaiy
Monday.
NATION TURNS
INQUIRERS AWAY.
Secretary Hughes remained reticent as
% any and all aspects of the controversy,
nd Senator James Eli Watson, Indiana,
burned away all inquirers. He refused
10 discuss the matter in any way IL
WIS learned. however, from Adniinistra-
tion Spokesman at both ends of Penn
sylvania avenue that the establishes pol
icy ,of the American Government Is so
clear respecting such matters as 10 rem
der 1t unnecessary for Mr.. Hughes TO
make a public statement.
The United States regards the tariff as
a domestic question. That has been made
clear on numerous occasions. Ii any Tor.
eipn government wished to address Itself
to pending legislation such as the tarN
the established procedure takes the form
Of informal Representative ions to our Gov
eminent. That might lie done through a
trief submitted to the Secretary OF State
To be transmitted by him to the proper
branch of the Government
In any event foreign ambassador de-
string tc discuss such matters as tarfn
legislation would be expected to do ~
through the Department OF State. mol
through public addresses or personal
representations to Congress.
GUATEMALAN
CALLS on MOSES.
The most recent instance Of the clatter
kind was afforded by Julio Bianchi, then
Guatemalan minister to this country who
called In person on Senator Moses OF
New Hampshire to express opposition TO
n resolution Of inquiry into Guatemaian
conditions which the Senator had pending
before the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions. Dr. Bianchi was rebuked promptly
by the State Department. He rendered
an apology.
On the question of freedom OF speech
by foreign ambassadors, the precedents
reveal the attitude OF the State Depart
ment. 1t is that an ambassador repre-
sents a government and that when an am
bassador speaks his government speaks
Utterances OF ambassadors on general
TOPICS are welcomed but never is 1t con-
sidered proper for them to discuss domes-
tic policies Of the government to which
they are accredited.
With reference to their discussion Of
international Issues which may be pend
ing for decisions by the United States
attention is directed to the fact that an
international question" Is in Its final
analysis merely one with two or more
national views" For that reason. the
expression by Viscount Gray OF his views
on the Lodge reservations to the treaty
Of Versailles was withheld By him until
after he had ceased to function as the
, British ambas dor to the United States
and had returned to England.