500.A14/674
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Phillips)
I telephoned Senator Robinson this morning to inquire whether anything could be done to eliminate the reservation to the resolution by which the Senate gave its advice and consent to ratification of the Convention for the Supervision of International Trade in Arms, Ammunition and Implements of War, which was proposed by Senator King and agreed to by the Senate.
The Senator told me that he had been prepared to resist Senator King’s reservation, but that unfortunately at the time of consideration he had been called to the White House by the President; he expressed the opinion that nothing could now be done about it inasmuch as Senator Pittman was “violently opposed” to any re-consideration and as [Page 461] Senator King had stated that he would keep the Senate in session all summer if any attempt were made to have his reservation withdrawn. Under these circumstances, I agree with the Senator that it did not seem as if anything could be done.