550.S1/916: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chairman of the American Delegation (Hull)
9. Your 10, June 7, 4 p.m. The President sends you the following confidential message.
[Page 924]“I wholly understand and approve your anxiety for tariff action at this session. The situation in these closing days of the session is so full of dynamite that immediate adjournment is necessary. Otherwise bonus legislation, paper money inflation, etc., may be forced. The Veterans’ Amendment alone may upset whole situation if I cannot straighten it out in next 3 days. Therefore, tariff legislation seems not only highly inadvisable, but impossible of achievement.
You have full authority to negotiate in London general reciprocal commercial treaties based on mutual tariff concessions. Negotiation requires no prior congressional authorization. In addition, there is no reason why you cannot arrange for conferences to be held in Washington looking to definite reciprocal agreements with individual nations. All such agreements, both general and bi-lateral, would be submitted for approval as soon as Congress reassembles.
Furthermore, I shall start at once conferring with Tariff Commission to discover where trade promoting reductions can be made by Executive order under existing law, and will keep you advised of result.
Best regards to all of you.”