Dear Mr. Sam: I have made some informal inquiries into the allegations made to you by one of your associates that counterpart funds in various countries are provided to visiting Congressmen recklessly and immoderately, often at the insistence of local State Department officials.1
From reports made to me no authority for decision is left with the State Department, and that Department has no responsibility for determining the wisdom of expenditures made. I enclose a short report prepared by the Department.2 It seems to me that whatever corrective action is taken must have a first requisite of action within the Congress.
If you should desire, I would be glad to go further into the matter and get as complete a report as possible, before the next session begins.
Incidentally, I could not look up the particular case reported to you for the simple reason that I had no identification as to individual or country from which to begin. However, I have asked the Secretary of State to inform all the Embassies that in no case are they to be in the position of "forcing" money upon anyone, no matter what the individual's authority for requisition may be.
Please let me know if there is anything more you want me to do at this time. Meantime, I hope that you will get the vacation and rest that you must badly need.3
With warm regard, Sincerely
