Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-01

they had failed and diplomatic rels.
tons had been sundered.
In that ticklish moment, DR., George
Logan OF Philadelphia, a QUAKER
physician, who had served in the
pennsylvania Legislature and who
later became q United States Senator.
took II upon himself to go to France.
armed with letters of introduction
from Thomas Jefferson, who was not
tnen = member of the administration.
ana Gov. Mexican of Pennsylva mia.
WIN the view to preventing war. In
france DR.. Logan interviewed TaIley.
rand and was Toasted by members of
the Directory.
Upon his return he called on tho
Secretary OF State. Mr.. Timothy Pick.
erng, who received him curtly. and
on Gen. Washington, whose reception
Ii indicated by the following para.
self:
This drew my attention more mar.
ticulariy to what he (Dr. Logan was
saying, and induced mo to remark
that there was something very ain.
guar In this (object or hope of his
mlsslon); that he. who could only he
received az a private character, un.
armed with proper powers and pre-
sumptively unknown in France.
snouid suppose that he could effect
what three gentlemen OF tho first re-
spectability In our country, specially
charged under the authority of Gov.
eminent, were unable to do"
**x
AS direct result of that act of
what was accounted effrontery and
meddling, Secretary of State Picker.
ing urged Congress to adopt what Ia
known as the Logan law, above
quoted.
Historian Randall says: This act
not only renders such conduct an
LOgan's criminal offsense, but also
every word uttered by other
American residents in France, to any
officer or agent of its Government,
for the purpose of preserving peace
between the two countries" To write
a letter to an officer or agent from
our country, for the same object, was
equally punishable. (See Randall.
Life of Jefferson.")
Secretary of State Pickering, with
in a year March, 1899 after the pas
sage of the Logan act. in q letter to
our Minister at The Hague Murray.
stated:
And you will be pleased to under.
stand 1t is the Presidents opinion
that no more direct or unofficial com.
munications, written or verbal, should
be held with any persons whatever,
agents on behalf Of France, on the
subjects Of difference between the
United States and the French Repub
lie"
That was written even to our Minis
ter to q neighboring country, warn.
ing that all negotiations on such mat
ters rested exclusively in the Depart.
ment Of State.
The law, was violated when five
eminent attorneys In New York and
Phila delphia, in 1903, gave, as legal
advice, certain opinions to the Spanish
Minister to the United States, regard.
Ing our claims for reparation from
Spain for ships seized in Spanish ports
during the Anglo-French war. These
opinions were sprung on our Ministers
to Spain by the Spanish government,
In the midst Of his presentation of
the claims Of the administration Of
President Jefferson, but by reason Of
partisan influence the attorneys were
not prosecuted. 1t Is recalled that
only by Jefferson's Introduction had
DIR. Logan gotten standing in Fran
ON his meddling trip. which had in.
spired the law to stop such interior
ence.
In Jefferson's administration, 1908,
former Secretary Pickering. then
Senator, who had inspired the Logan
law, himself violated it In his "solici.
tude to have peace preserved between
England and the United States"
Henry Adams historian, says, refer
ring to Senator Pickering. Not only
by word Of mouth. but also by letter,
he piled the British envoy with argu-
ment ana evidence.
lCenyrishs.- is37- by Fsui v. coiiins.l