852.24/650
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The Spanish Chargé called at his own request. He sought for some minutes to apologize or to disclaim any connection with the attacks which supporters of his Government’s cause in this country have been making on the State Department and the Government in regard to the exportation of arms and ammunition to Germany. I expressed my gratification that his Government was taking this attitude and my agreement with him that the elements in this country engaged in these attacks could not possibly be helping his Government or any other government. He then said he and his Government would be interested to know just what our attitude is on the Nye Resolution49 and the embargo situation. I replied that this Resolution had been forwarded to the State Department under the practice of both Houses of Congress to refer appropriate bills or resolutions to the State Department for any comment it may have in mind. I then added that the Resolution called for the investigation and assembling of a number of facts; that as soon as possible we would undertake to communicate [Page 185] to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations such facts and comment as we may have on this subject, if any; that we must make this report to the Senate Committee before any information about it is divulged. He seemed to understand this.
- S. J. Res. 288, introduced by Senator Nye on May 2, 1938, Congressional Record, vol. 83, pt. 6, p. 6030.↩