Date: April 21, 1925
Location: Washington D.C.
(Original document available here)
Several inquiries have been made about a statement that the Secretary of State gave relative to the present position on the recognition of Russia. I understand that that came about in this way – that when Secretary Kellogg became Secretary of State there were rumors that that might change the attitude of the State Department toward Russia, and that in response to several inquiries of that kind he sent notice that there wasn’t any change at the present time. More a matter of the details of the office. It hadn’t any particular significance.
I did make an inquiry of the Shipping Board not in relation to the sale of ships that is contemplated, but made an inquiry as to whether part of the Board were going to appear in court in opposition to the rest of the Board. I was informed that some of them were appearing in court. I didn’t know whether the idea was in opposition to the rest of the Board, but the information consisted of filing with me their personal answers; individual answers were made by different members of the Board. Those are on file in court. That is all the information I have. I wasn’t making any inquiry about the sale of the ships. My Inquiry was as to the administration of the Shipping Board affairs, as to whether a part of the Board were in conflict with the Board or a part of the Board while the remaining members of the Board were in effect joining a suit against the Board or a suit against the Government. I was told that the complaint had been issued by the court against each member individually and that they were making some individual answers. Those answers are on file in the court. I don’t know exactly what their contents are. I don’t think I am going to be at Boston on the l7th of June. It is possible that I may be in Cambridge on the 3rd of July. There are no negotiations going on relative to an arms conference. I have already given you all the information there is about that. The matter is being looked up in the State Dept. It doesn’t appear that I shall be able to attend the commencement exercises at the University of Michigan. I was going over there especially at the invitation of President Burton, who is deceased.
I am advised that some marines were landed in Honduras from one of our war vessels that are in that territory. We haven’t had any definite information yet as to the nature of the difficulties there. The commanders of U. S. battleships have general authority, when they are in foreign waters and are convinced that American lives or property are in jeopardy, to land marines for their protection. That is what took place in this instance. We don’t know of any lives that have been lost. I am speaking now not only of American lives, but of the natives of Honduras. We do understand, though, that there is some threat of revolution and disorder in some parts of that country, but so far as we have any information it doesn’t appear yet to be serious.
I don’t know just when an appointment will be made to fill the vacancies at Rumania, Finland or Siam. Mr. Jay is in Rumania conducting some negotiations that are pending there. We may keep him there until those negotiations are in such shape that he could turn them over to his successor.
Most all of the questions today are in relation to Russia and the Shipping Board, which I think I have answered in a way that members of the conference will understand.
That seems to cover all the questions this morning.
I expect to see you all at the baseball game tomorrow.
Citation: Calvin Coolidge: Remarks by the President to Newspaper Correspondents
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