B-132372, JUN. 7, 1960
Highlights
WE HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE EXPLANATION APPEARING IN YOUR ASSISTANT SECRETARY'S LETTER BUT HAVE ONE RESERVATION TO REMOVAL OF THE EXCEPTION. " IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER HIS RETENTION ON DUTY TO THAT DATE PRIMARILY WAS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE OFFICER OR OF THE GOVERNMENT AND WHETHER THERE WAS AN OFFICIAL NECESSITY FOR HIS RETENTION UNTIL THAT DATE (FEBRUARY 20. IF YOUR DEPARTMENT WILL VERIFY THE OFFICIAL NECESSITY FOR THE OFFICER'S RETENTION ON DUTY IN PARIS UNTIL FEBRUARY 20.
B-132372, JUN. 7, 1960
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE:
ON APRIL 11, 1960, YOUR ASSISTANT SECRETARY REQUESTED RECONSIDERATION OF OUR DECISIONS OF AUGUST 29, 1957, AND OCTOBER 21, 1958, B-132372, WHICH SUSTAINED AN AUDIT EXCEPTION TAKEN AGAINST DISBURSING OFFICER VOUCHER NO. 71184, SEPTEMBER 1954 ACCOUNTS OF J. F. CANNON.
WE HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE EXPLANATION APPEARING IN YOUR ASSISTANT SECRETARY'S LETTER BUT HAVE ONE RESERVATION TO REMOVAL OF THE EXCEPTION. WHILE THE LETTER SAYS "THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN PARIS DETERMINED THAT THE LAST DAY OF DUTY OF MR. KELLY AT PARIS WOULD BE FEBRUARY 20, 1954," IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER HIS RETENTION ON DUTY TO THAT DATE PRIMARILY WAS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE OFFICER OR OF THE GOVERNMENT AND WHETHER THERE WAS AN OFFICIAL NECESSITY FOR HIS RETENTION UNTIL THAT DATE (FEBRUARY 20, 1954). THEREFORE, IF YOUR DEPARTMENT WILL VERIFY THE OFFICIAL NECESSITY FOR THE OFFICER'S RETENTION ON DUTY IN PARIS UNTIL FEBRUARY 20, 1954, AND ADVISE US IN WRITING OF SUCH VERIFICATION, WE FEEL THAT UPON SUCH EVIDENCE WE WOULD BE UPON FIRMER GROUND FOR REMOVING THE EXCEPTION.