811.113/221
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Castle) of a Conversation With the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs (McReynolds)
I went to see Mr. McReynolds in connection with the bill authorizing the President under certain conditions to put an embargo on the export of arms. I went over the ground very thoroughly with him explaining that this measure did not give the President any more authority, or as much, as the Joint Resolution of 1922,8 which covered the export of arms to certain countries which were having internal trouble. I explained to him that if this bill could be made promptly effective, it might be of the greatest assistance in putting a stop to the war and threat of war in South America, especially as it appeared that we would have the cordial cooperation of other arms producing nations in putting on this embargo of sale. Mr. McReynolds said that when the bill was first talked about simply giving the President authority without reference to cooperation with other nations he had been inclined to be opposed to it inasmuch as he felt that it would accomplish [Page 359] no valuable purpose and that it would merely penalize our own manufacturers without stopping the flow of arms. He said that, however, in its present form he was thoroughly in favor of the bill. He said that he had asked two or three days ago why the bill had not been sent over from the Senate, as he was prepared to bring it out immediately. He was then told of Senator Bingham’s objection which might cause a long delay. He said, however, that if we would like him to do so, he could introduce the bill independently in the House. He explained at some length the difficulties in this, because it would under certain circumstances need unanimous consent, which probably would not be obtained and could not normally be introduced until the general consent calendar next Wednesday.9 He said, however, that he fully appreciated the urgency of the matter and that he would take it up this afternoon with Mr. Garner10 to see if Mr. Garner would assist him in every way in getting proper consideration of the bill. Mr. Mc-Reynolds said that he had talked it over on the train the other day with Mr. Norman Davis,11 who is a great friend of his, and that Mr. Davis assured him that the bill had the sympathy of Mr. Roosevelt. He said that we could depend upon him to do everything in his power to put it through, although he expected to have trouble in his own Committee with Mr. Fish.12