Herbert Hoover

I keenly realize the difficulties of your own personal situation.

The celebration of the anniversary of the signing of the treaties with France at Paris on February 6, 1778 is a valuable manifestation of an historic friendship and helps keep alive the feelings of international understanding and good will…

It is apparent, therefore, that I have an independent obligation, as President, to nominate men for the federal judiciary who are not subject to any question as to their fitness.

The Constitution provides that the President shall first nominate and then, with the advice and consent of the Senate, make the appointment.

The Attorney General has given you his reasons therefor.

I send to you and the France-America Society my cordial greetings and good wishes.

No question of corporate influence or personal popularity does or should enter into this question.

I regret that I cannot do so.

My conception of my responsibilities does not, however, permit of my placing the appointment of judges on this basis.

The initiative of making the nomination is clearly with the President.

I have borne in mind your long continued and earnest representations as to this appointment.

The Department of Justice, after careful investigation, as early as last June indicated its disapproval of Mr. Michel for this position.

Now, if you combine all of those into the calendar year 1932 as to what the total, direct and indirect, construction expenditures will amount to--somewhere from $750 million to $775 million.

It is not the amount we are worrying about--it is the question of important principle concerned.

Embassies, legations, and other missions are hereby authorized to follow the instructions pertaining to citizenship set forth in Article X of the Consular Regulations.

There is one thing in the present appropriation bills that we must not overlook--one reason for expedition.

I haven't anything today for publication or quotation.

That is not in the nature of compromise, because it all implies the abandonment of all charitable appropriations of all kinds and cutting out one of the primary difficulties which has arisen in the drought territory, and that is the lack…

As I have said before, that compares with the rate of about $275 million before the depression.

They may be for other purposes than that.

The basis of successful relief in national distress is to mobilize and organize the infinite number of agencies of self-help in the community.

If we break down this sense of responsibility of individual generosity to individual and mutual self-help in the country in times of national difficulty and if we start appropriations of this character we have not only impaired something…

The Red Cross officials, whose long devoted service and experience is unchallenged, inform me this morning that, except for the minor incidents of any emergency organization, no one is going hungry and no one need go hungry or cold.

The help being daily extended by neighbors, by local and national agencies, by municipalities, by industry and a great multitude of organizations throughout the country today is many times any appropriation yet proposed.

The American people are doing their job today.