693.119/352: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Crane)
246. Your telegram no. 266, September 23. It is the opinion of the Department that reiteration of the arms embargo agreement will serve no useful purpose and also that it would not be opportune for the United States to take any initiative in the matter at this time in view of the fact that the embargo can be enforced in the United States only by virtue of war powers which probably will soon be terminated. In sending the telegram of September 23, 4 p.m. [September 15, 2 p.m.] it was the intention of the Department to secure such information regarding the observance of the arms embargo as would enable the administration to decide as to the wisdom of again making urgent request to Congress for special grant of power for enforcing the embargo after the powers now vested in the War Trade Board are terminated. It was not intended to instruct the Legation in China to initiate any new action.