Neutrality: U.S.     146/ Zl /40
BHITlSii KM13ASSY,
WASHINGTON, D.C
•»
May 15th, 1940.
No. 434.
My Lord,
I have the honour to inform
Your Lordship that the Department of
Justice have announced the establishment
of a "Neutrality Law Unit" whose function
will be to decide what legal action should
be taken in all oases of infringement or
suspected infringement of the Neutrality
haws.   The reason for the establishment of
this unit, according to the statement of
the Department of Justice, is to achieve
uniformity of policy in dealing with cases
of infraction of the neutrality laws.
Hitherto the discretion in such matters has
lain in the hands of the different district
attorneys and their policy has varied in
different parts of the country.
2. The President has Issued a statement
assuring the public that the "Neutrality Law
Unit*' is Intended to assist the Federal liureau
of Investigation and not to subtract from
anything it is now doing.   It has been created,
so the statement says, with the approval of
Mr. J. Edgar hoover as well as of that of the
Attorney General,
I have the honour to be,
with the highest respect,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble servant.
The Right honourable
The Viscount halifax, K.Q
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