MacVeagh for Kellogg?

Why did Charles MacVeagh, U. S. Ambassador to Japan, scheduled to sail for the U. S. on April 29, instead depart on April 8? Why did he take speedy passage on the British Empress of Canada when U. S. officials are required to patronize U. S. ships whenever possible ? Why did his departure almost immediately follow a conference between his friend, Dwight W. Morrow, of J. P. Morgan & Co., and President Coolidge?

These are questions now being asked in Washington, D. C., and many an asker has also his answer. For rumor persists that Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg will shortly tender his resignation, that Ambassador Charles MacVeagh will be named as his successor. Tale-spreaders maintain also that Secretary Kellogg's continued ill health may in itself constitute a reason for his resignation.

Thus the rumors. On the other hand, President Coolidge has repeatedly expressed approval of and confidence in Secretary Kellogg. The White House has issued definite, formal denial of reported changes in the Cabinet.

Ambassador MacVeagh, 66, was born in West Chester, Pa., graduated from Harvard University and Columbia Law School, entered the Manhattan law firm of Stetson, Jennings & Russell/- in 1887. He has been Ambassador to Japan since October, 1925.

Other news, equally vague, came out of the U. S. Department of State last week. The investigation of charges that forged documents had been used to stir up hostility between the U. S. and Mexico (TIME, April 11) led to the discovery of 300 stolen Department of State papers. These were said to have been sold by a U. S. employe to President Calles of Mexico. The Department of State hushed up the incident; announced that the leak had been found, that President Calles had returned the documents, that Mexico and the U. S. understood each other. Several of the stolen papers were called forgeries by the Department of State.

/-The firm later became Stetson, Jennings, Russell & Davis ; is now Davis, Polk, Wardwell, Gardiner & Reed.