Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1934, General, the British Commonwealth, Volume I

811.113 Senate Investigation/23

Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Phillips)

[ Washington ,] September 11, 1934.

The British Ambassador¹¹ called today and we discussed the action of the Nye Committee in giving publicity to rumors involving the heads of states and, in particular, the King of England. I gave Sir Ronald a picture of the Secretary’s activities of today, explained that he had spent over two hours with the members of the Committee in an effort to point out to them the embarrassment involved of giving publicity to mere rumors involving the heads of other states and important officials of foreign governments. I read him the letter^11a which Senator Nye had written to the Secretary after this conference, which I explained would be made public later in the afternoon, together with a statement by the Secretary which was now being drafted.

I gathered the impression that Sir Ronald had not been instructed to take up the matter with us and, when I told him that Sir Robert Vansittart had expressed himself somewhat strongly on the subject to a member of the American Embassy,¹² Sir Ronald expressed some surprise. He himself approached the subject laconically and said that he was glad to note in the press that the King would not dignify the statement by any denial.

I promised Sir Ronald that I would send him later in the afternoon a copy of the two press releases¹³ which the Department was about to make public.

William Phillips

11. Sir Ronald Lindsay.
12. Post, p. 437.
12. See telegram No. 513, September 10, from the Ambassador in Great Britain, supra.
13. For texts of documents, see note of September 17 to the Mexican Ambassador, p. 436.