B-133991, NOVEMBER 25, 1957, 37 COMP. GEN. 360

B-133991, NOVEMBER 25, 1957, 37 COMP. GEN. 360

APPROPRIATIONS - PRINTING AND BINDING - CHRISTMAS CARDS THE COST OF SEASONAL GREETING CARDS TO BE SENT BY THE UNITED STATES INFORMATION SERVICE POSTS TO LOCAL DIGNITARIES AND OTHER IMPORTANT INDIVIDUALS IN THE COUNTRIES WHERE THE POSTS ARE LOCATED IS NOT A COST INCIDENT TO THE DISSEMINATION ABROAD OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNITED STATES TO JUSTIFY THE USE OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS AND TO WARRANT AN EXCEPTION TO THE LONG-STANDING RULE THAT, IN THE ABSENCE OF SPECIFIC AUTHORITY, THE COST OF CHRISTMAS CARDS IS A PERSONAL EXPENSE TO BE BORNE BY THE OFFICER WHO ORDERED AND SENT THE CARDS.

TO THE DIRECTOR, UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY, NOVEMBER 25, 1957:

ON OCTOBER 2, 1957, MR. ARTHUR LARSON, THE THEN DIRECTOR OF YOUR AGENCY, REFERRED TO EXCEPTIONS RECENTLY TAKEN BY OUR OFFICE AGAINST PAYMENTS FOR THE COST OF POSTAGE, PRINTING AND ADDRESSING OF SEASONAL GREETING CARDS, BEARING THE IMPRESSION, TYPICALLY," UNITED STATES INFORMATION SERVICE, (NAME OF COUNTRY)," FROM FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE U.S. INFORMATION AGENCY AND REQUESTED OUR DECISION CONCERNING THE USE OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS FOR THE COSTS OF SEASONAL GREETING CARDS.

IN HIS LETTER MR. LARSON REPORTS THAT SUCH CARDS HAVE BEEN SENT IN THE PAST BY USIS POSTS TO LOCAL DIGNITARIES AND OTHER IMPORTANT INDIVIDUALS IN THE COUNTRY WHERE SUCH POSTS ARE LOCATED, AND THAT THE NAMES OF OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES SENDING THE CARDS WERE NOT INCLUDED AND NOTHING ATTACHED TO THE CARDS TO INDICATE THE COMPLIMENTS OF ANY INDIVIDUAL.

IT IS INDICATED IN MR. LARSON'S LETTER THAT THE VIEW OF YOUR AGENCY IS THAT THE PURPOSES AND NATURE OF ITS OPERATIONS ABROAD CLEARLY SUPPORT THE PROPRIETY OF SEASONAL GREETING CARDS. THE LETTER POINTS OUT THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF DIRECT RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AGENCY OFFICERS AND LEADING INDIVIDUALS IN PRESS, RADIO, AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE INFORMATION PROGRAM ABROAD, AND THAT PRESENTATION OF INFORMATIONAL AND CULTURAL MATERIALS TO SUCH INDIVIDUALS HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED IN THE AGENCY'S ORGANIC ACT, THE UNITED STATES INFORMATION AND EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE ACT OF 1948, 62 STAT. 6, 22 U.S.C. 1431, NOTE. THE OPINION IS EXPRESSED THAT CONSIDERING THE FUNCTIONS AND PURPOSES OF YOUR AGENCY, THE EXPENDITURES ARE OF MATERIAL AID IN THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE APPROPRIATIONS AVAILABLE TO YOUR AGENCY AND ALLOWABLE UNDER THE TEST SET OUT IN 7 COMP. GEN. 481.

THE ACCOUNTING OFFICERS OF THE GOVERNMENT HAVE LONG HELD THAT, IN THE ABSENCE OF SPECIFIC PROVISION THEREFOR IN THE APPROPRIATION, THE COST OF CHRISTMAS GREETING CARDS IS A PERSONAL EXPENSE TO BE BORNE BY THE OFFICER WHO ORDERED AND SENT THE CARDS AND IS NOT CHARGEABLE TO PUBLIC FUNDS. 115132, JUNE 17, 1953; B-131611, MAY 24, 1957. WHILE YOUR AGENCY IS AUTHORIZED TO DISSEMINATE ABROAD INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNITED STATES, ITS PEOPLE, AND THE POLICIES OF THE GOVERNMENT, TO PROMOTE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES, IT SEEMS TO US THAT VERY LITTLE, IF ANY, INFORMATION IN THAT REGARD IS CONTAINED ON THE ORDINARY CHRISTMAS GREETING CARD. ALSO, AS INDICATED IN MR. LARSON'S LETTER, THE PURPOSE IN SENDING THE CARDS APPEARS NOT SO MUCH TO GIVE INFORMATION AS TO SECURE THE RECIPIENT'S GOOD-WILL AND COOPERATION IN CARRYING OUT YOUR AGENCY'S WORK. SUCH JUSTIFICATION LIKELY COULD BE USED BY MOST GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SIMILARLY TO JUSTIFY SUCH EXPENSE. ACCORDINGLY, AND IN VIEW OF THE LONG STANDING RULE OF THE ACCOUNTING OFFICERS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND SINCE CONGRESS HAS NOT INCLUDED SPECIFIC AUTHORITY IN THE APPROPRIATION TO YOUR AGENCY, OR ELSEWHERE, FOR THE COSTS OF SEASONAL GREETING CARDS, WE CONCLUDE THAT THE REASONS ADVANCED IN YOUR AGENCY'S LETTER OF OCTOBER 2, 1957, ARE INSUFFICIENT TO WARRANT THE USE OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS FOR SUCH COSTS.