793.94/15614
The Secretary of State to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (Pittman)
My Dear Senator Pittman: I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of January 18, 1940,62 transmitting S. Con. Res. 3663 for my consideration and any recommendation or report I might feel disposed to make.
I note that the concurrent resolution provides that the Congress shall find that “a state of war exists between the Empire of Japan and the Republic of China, and that it is necessary to promote the security and preserve the peace of the United States and to protect the lives of citizens of the United States”, and requests that the President issue a proclamation under section 1 of the Neutrality Act of November 4, 1939.64
Although hostilities have been in progress in the Far East for two and one-half years, the Executive Branch of the Government, which has given the most constant and careful consideration to the problem, has at no time perceived any reason to believe that the application of the neutrality Act of May 1, 1937,65 or the Act of November 4, 1939, to that conflict would be likely to contribute to the promotion of the security and the preservation of the peace of the United States or to the protection of the lives of citizens of the United States.
I am, therefore, of the opinion that the proposed finding of the concurrent resolution that “it is necessary to promote the security and preserve the peace of the United States and to protect the lives of citizens of the United States,” by issuing a proclamation in regard to the Far East under section 1 of the Neutrality Act of November 4, 1939, is not in accordance with the exigencies of the situation and that the concurrent resolution should, therefore, not be adopted.
Sincerely yours,