Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-28
Secretaries Are Barred.

ment.
Secretaries Are Barred.
%l1ven the Secretary of Commerce or
the Secretary of the Treasury cannot
communicate directly with foreign
government except through the good
offices of the Department of State.
This has been the procedure for gen
erations.
Indeed, a law known as the
Logan act has been on the statute
books ever since President Washing
ton resented the course of Senator
Logan, who went to France and in
terviewed government officials there
In an effort to prevent war. The law
was passed at the instance of Presi-
dent Washington and prohibits any
citizen of the United States with
out the permission or authority of
the Government" from directly or in
directly carrying on any verbal or
written correspondence with any for
elgn government or an officer or
agent of II with an intent TO infiu-.
enee the measures or conduct of afls
foreign government or any officer or
agent thereof in relation 10 any dis
putes or controversies with the
United States or to defeat the meas
ures of the Government of the
United States"
Borah Not VioIator.
Senator Borah did not, of course,
violate the law. because he can con-
tend that the object of his inquiry.
was not to influence the policy of the
Mexican government, but simply to
inform himself in connection with
the policy of his own Government,
which he as Senator must pass
upon.
1t is not, however, the legal techni.
calitieS of the act but the spirit of
interference which the Coolidge ad-
ministration criticiZes. Thus Presi-
dent Wilson refused to see yiscount
Grey. who came as a special commits
sioner after the war, but who was re-
ported to have conferred with Senator
Lodge, chairman of the Senate
foreign relations committee, with
reference to the pending reservations
to the League of Nations covenant.
The Italian Ambassador, who a few
years ago, was recalled, incurred the
displeasure of the Senate because he
even went so far as to discuss Ameri-
can tariff policy in a public speech.
Foreign executives or their ambas-
sadors are not supposed to reach di.
reetly into American governmental
affairs either through written or ver-
bal contact with American legislators
or departments of the American Gov
ernment, except with the approval of
the Department of State
Policy Is Centralized.
This has been the custom so that
foreign affairs can be centralized in
one place or at least so that the De.
partment of State can be advised as
to what other governments or their
agents are saying and doing.
The next step, if the Department
of State cares to do so, Is a note to
the Mixican government advising that
hereafter all communications intended
for the American Government shall
be transmitted to the Department of
state or the White House. President.
of course, have the privilege Of direct
communication with each other. Mex.
leo herself has been Stickler for the
properties in diplomacy and would
resent a communication from Presi.
dent Coolidge to members of the Mex.
lean congress, on any subject in con.
troversy between the two govern
ments.
Effect on Senate.
The effect of the incident on the
Senate here is. however, the real ques-
ton. Senator Borah has a resolution
pending whereby. he can conduct an
on Nicaragua and Mexf--
co during the recess of Congress. The
Senate foreign relations committee re-
fused permission for such a committee
to go outside the country, but did not
object to the resolution of inquiry IL
hearings were held In the United
States.
The fate of the resolution hinges on
whether the friends of President
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