The assertion is put forward in the Socialist press that Secretary of State Hughes uses, or rather misuses, his office for propaganda purposes. Two specific charges are made:
1) That in explaining the closing of the American consulate at Vladivostok he gave as a reason that the Soviet Government had confiscated property of the General Electric Co. and the International Harvester Co., worth $300,000. It is said that the goods were seized because of unpaid import duties.
2) That he sent telegrams on behalf of "the international bankers" to clergymen asking them to...