Office of the Historian

811.04418/637: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in the Union of South Africa (Keena)

Washington, October 16, 1939—5 p.m.

23. Your 21, October 10. South African Minister has delivered a note33 in the sense of the Prime Minister’s remarks to you and I have transmitted a copy of the note to the appropriate Committee of the Senate.34

In the interview he was told that the executive was keeping entirely out of the discussions (unless asked for suggestions) and that I was unable to predict their outcome. You might show the Prime Minister a copy of my letter to Senator Vandenberg quoted in Radio Bulletin of September 27.

I think you might tell the Prime Minister that all of these considerations have been repeatedly recited in the Senate by certain members, from which it is apparent that that body will not fail to take into account the effect which any bill might have upon American commercial and shipping interests. Editorial writers stress these points and the business interests themselves are apparently active.

Hull
  1. Dated September 30, 1939, not printed.↩
  2. Letter of October 13, 1939, to Senator Pittman, not printed.↩