File No. 600.119/45
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland ( Stovall)
559. Your 824, April 24, 5 p.m. A bill has been introduced in Congress to prohibit all exports from this country except under rules and regulations made by the Government but, except as to such precautions as may be necessary to guard against trading with the enemy directly or indirectly, it is not intended that this measure should produce burdensome restrictions upon or interruptions in our commerce with neutral countries. Notwithstanding that the matter is inchoate at the moment and dependent upon action by Congress, you nevertheless should take occasion to allay public alarm relative to its injurious effects on Swiss commerce, if the measure indicated should be adopted. The Department will consider authorizing some such statement as you suggest if the bill now before Congress is enacted.