611.9417/57 Suppl.
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of Commerce (Roper)
My Dear Mr. Secretary: With further reference to the Cabinet Committee’s recommendation respecting importations into the United States from Japan of textile products which have been the subject of complaint, I can now supplement my letter of October 11.
I am informed that the Executive Committee on Commercial Policy, meeting on October 11, gave consideration to this matter. It was the feeling of the Committee that the element of time is important and that if the President desires action along the line of the Cabinet Committee’s recommendation the matter should be taken up with the Japanese at the earliest possible date. The Commercial Policy Committee is having a study made of the list of items which might be covered in the discussions with the Japanese and of the most desirable procedure for conducting such negotiations. Although no definite decision has been reached with respect to these matters, the Executive Committee on Commercial Policy has requested that I offer for your consideration the suggestion that a letter be sent to the President as soon as possible, either signed by the four Cabinet members constituting the Cabinet Committee on Textiles, or by you on behalf of the Committee. It is the opinion of the Commercial Policy Committee that such a letter should seek to ascertain whether the President favors the course of action recommended in the Cabinet Committee’s report of August 20, 1935,81 and should urge early initiation of conversations with the Japanese, in the event this course of action is to be followed, because of the length of time required to conduct negotiations of this nature.
The Honorable Henry A. Wallace, Secretary of Agriculture, suggested at the meeting of the Commercial Policy Committee that in addition to the letter to the President it would be advisable to discuss the matter with the President in person.
The Executive Committee on Commercial Policy has given some thought to the preparation of a letter to the President along the lines discussed above, and I attach hereto the suggested draft of such a letter,82 for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,