763.72/12603
The Minister in the Netherlands (
Garrett
) to the Secretary of
State
No. 2183
The Hague
, November
29, 1918.
[Received December 26.]
Sir: Referring to my telegram No. 5255 of
November 20th,2 regarding the
status in Holland of the former German Emperor, I have the honor to
transmit herewith the text of a telegram sent on November 21st last by
the Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Dutch Minister in
Washington, together with a translation thereof.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure—Telegram—Translation]3
The Netherlands Minister for Foreign Affairs
(
Karnebeek
) to the Netherlands Minister in the
United States (
Cremer
)
[
The Hague
, November 21, 1918.]
The following résumé of the declaration made on Wednesday to the
States-General by the Premier will enable you to explain in official
circles the character of the sojourn of the former German Emperor:
“It is only natural that the sojourn in Holland of the former
German Emperor has attracted widespread attention throughout
the country, and has even aroused some alarm. The facts of
the case are that the ex-Emperor came to Holland after his
abdication as a private person and considers himself as
such. At the express request of the Dutch Government, Count
Bentinck tendered the Castle of Amerongen, which is situated
in an isolated region, as a place to receive him. The
character of the asylum offered the ex-Emperor differs in no
way from that enjoyed by refugees for centuries. The
offering of asylum is a trait deeply rooted in the spirit of
liberty and tolerance of the Dutch people, and in the course
of our history refugees of humble and of high position, as
well as princes, have benefited by it. During this war
hundreds of thousands of foreigners have found refuge and
repose
[Page 77]
in the
Netherlands. Because of his former position there was no
reason to make in advance any exception against this man
who, as a foreigner, came to our frontier and requested
admission. This does not mean that the Government must not
be on its guard lest any abuses occur and lest its offer of
hospitality become harmful to the interests of the country.
National interests might demand that the exigencies of the
case should outweigh humanitarian considerations and
historical traditions. The Dutch Government, however, has
reason to expect that the ex-sovereign and his suite will be
fully alive to the fact that it is to their interest as well
to conform to the requirements of the situation and to avoid
any false appearance of their sojourn in the Netherlands
serving as a basis for any political action whatever. The
Dutch Government has no reason to suppose that the foreign
states whose citizens, without distinction of rank, have so
often found asylum in Holland, will refuse to respect our
traditions and forget the instances in which they themselves
have given hospitality to fallen sovereigns.”
In view of the wild rumors circulating in the foreign press, I think
it advisable to inform you that a fixed place of residence has been
assigned to the ex-Emperor, who has not once left the grounds of the
Castle. I beg you to contradict these rumors whenever it is
possible.
