Duties of Secretary of State

100%

⇣

Archival document image, page 1. See transcription below.

No human transcription currently available for this document.

This transcription was generated by machine using Anthropic's Claude Code (a mix of sonnet and opus models). It may contain errors or inaccuracies. Please verify against the document image. Learn more about our generative AI methodology.

To Gen^l Randolph 4 March 1794 If the Secretary of State be the national organ, and not merely the executor for foreign commerce & consuls, will not in her line to answer the requests of foreign ministers relating to the publication of official communications — if not to whom are the foreign ministers to apply? — To the House of Representatives? certainly not. I am uninformed whether or not the publication be authorized; but I humbly conceive that it would be strictly improper to say so. Inclosure "a note to M^r Randolph, on the draft of a letter to the British minister relative to a publication of certain correspondence by the House of Representatives. 4 March 1794 [XGRN-59] [3905] [2995 a N]

Type

Document

Description

Memorandum from Secretary Knox to Secretary Randolph discussing foreign inquires and the publication of official communications. Knox seeks delineation of bureaucratic responsibilities in matters of foreign correspondence. Argues that the Secretary of State ought to be the "national organ and not merely the executive for foreign commerce," and that therefore it is his duty to answer the inquiries of foreign ministers relative to the publication of official communications.

Date

03/04/1794

Document number

1794030400101

Page start

Notable persons

Henry Knox

Secretary of State

House of Representatives

Notable items

If the secretary of state be the national organ and not merely the executive for foreign commerce

is it not in his line to answer the inquires of foreign ministers relative to the publication of official communications

if not to whom is the foreign minister to apply

uninformed whether or not the publication be authorized

humbly conceive that it would be strictly proper to say so.