Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1928, Volume I

811.30/157

The Secretary of State to the Honorable Stephen G. Porter^50a

Washington, January 28, 1928.

My Dear Congressman: I received your letter⁵¹ asking the Department’s report or recommendations on H. J. Res. 139 expressing the opinion of Congress against the use of submarines, etc.⁵² There is no objection to the Resolution provided it expresses the opinion of Congress that submarines be abolished and their construction prohibited by all the nations of the world. Of course, it would be impossible for one country to abolish submarines and leave any other country free to build and operate them. The United States would be willing to sign a treaty with all the powers of the world prohibiting the use of submarines entirely. I suggest, therefore, that the Resolution be amended to read as follows:

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it is the opinion of the Congress of the United States that all nations of the world should unite in prohibiting the use of submarines and discontinuing the construction thereof in every country.

That the Government of the United States continue to use efforts to bring about these results.

Very sincerely yours,

Frank B. Kellogg

1. Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
51. Not printed.

52. 70th Congress, 1st Session, joint resolution introduced by Mr. Frothingham Jan. 9, 1928, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs:

    “Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it is the opinion of the Congress of the United States that the use of submarines be prohibited and their construction discontinued in this and every other country.

    That the Government of the United States continue to use efforts to bring about these results.”