811.113/280a
The Secretary of State to the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs (McReynolds)
My Dear Mr. McReynolds: I have given careful consideration to H. J. Res. 9323 and I am strongly of the opinion that this legislation [Page 365] should be enacted. I should greatly appreciate it, therefore, if you could find it possible to urge favorable action on this resolution. I hope that you will be able to succeed in having it passed in the form in which it was reported out of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and without the amendment which was introduced in the House when this legislation was being considered on the recommendation of the last administration—an amendment which would weaken its force and narrow its applicability.
The authority, which the passage of this resolution would confer upon the Executive, would be exercised by any Chief Magistrate of the United States to the sole end of maintaining the peace of the world and with a due and prudent regard for our national policies and national interests. The special circumstances of each particular case which may arise would dictate what action, if any, would be taken in that case, but the authority to act on terms of equality in cooperation with other governments when the occasion arises, should be left to the discretion of the Executive Branch of the Government which is charged, under the Constitution, with the conduct of our foreign relations. In justice to the firm convictions of the American people and to its own dignity, this Government should no longer be left in the position of being unable to join the other governments of the world in preventing the supply of arms and munitions for use in an international conflict when it is exercising its diplomacy and the whole weight of our national influence and prestige to prevent or put an end to that conflict. The enactment of this legislation would strengthen the position of this Government in its international relations and would enable us to cooperate more efficiently in efforts to maintain the peace of the world.
I am writing to Senator Pittman asking him to support this legislation in the Senate.
Sincerely yours,