§ 953. — Private correspondence with foreign governments.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC953]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 45--FOREIGN RELATIONS
Sec. 953. Private correspondence with foreign governments
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without
authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or
carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government
or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures
or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof,
in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or
to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this
title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply,
himself or his agent, to any foreign government or the agents thereof
for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such
government or any of its agents or subjects.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 744; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII,
Sec. 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 5 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321,
Sec. 5, 35 Stat. 1088; Apr. 22, 1932, ch. 126, 47 Stat. 132).
The reference to any citizen or resident within the jurisdiction of
the United States not duly authorized ``who counsels, advises or assists
in such correspondence with such intent'' was omitted as unnecessary in
view of definition of principal in section 2.
Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.
Minor changes of arrangement and in phraseology were made.
Amendments
1994--Pub. L. 103-322 substituted ``fined under this title'' for
``fined not more than $5,000'' in first par.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in title 50 App. section 34.
