File No. 763.72/667
The Minister in the Netherlands (Van Dyke) to the Secretary of State
The Hague, August 14, 1914.
[Received August 28.]
No. 125]
Sir: I take the occasion of the probable sailing of the Holland-America Line S. S. Noordam from Rotterdam on August 15, to send you the following report, giving fuller details than it is possible to send by cable.
I. THE EUROPEAN SITUATION
After the declaration of war by Austria upon Servia on July 25, the conflagration spread with amazing swiftness. All the great nations professed a desire for peace. But the war spirit flashed through Europe like a forest fire.
The extraordinary speed with which Germany violated the neutralities of Luxemburg and Belgium, and the rapidity with which she has massed her forces on Belgian territory, threatening the northwestern part of France, do not indicate that the conflict was a surprise to her. But I know from the best sources that she did not expect the stubborn resistance which Belgium has offered. Nor was [Page 81] she prepared to accept the firm attitude of Great Britain in support of the Belgian neutrality, without attempting to weaken that attitude by diplomatic offers.
The question of the sanctity of neutral rights lies at the root of the conflict in its world aspect. No international agreements will be secure, no hopes of the establishment of peace through justice will be fruitful, no prospect of a pacific cooperation of Europe will remain on the horizon, if the guaranteed neutralities of sovereign states are swept away like burnt paper, on the plea that “necessity knows no law.”
The position of America is universally recognized. She stands outside of the present sphere of conflict. But she has a real interest, not only for her own sake, but for the sake of humanity, in the respect of the neutrality of Holland. The Dutch ports are now the most important open doors for the peaceful trade and intercourse of the Western world. To close or to obstruct them would be to give another check to civilization.
The attitude and action of America in this great European crisis, both in taking care of her own citizens and in aiding the peaceful citizens of other countries, have produced a most favorable effect. The foreign policy of the Administration at Washington has made an impression of fairness, firmness, and a strong will to maintain the right. The United States will be in a position to act as a mediator for the restoration of peace when the time comes.
That time, in the judgment of the best friends of peace here, has not yet arrived. When it does come, it would in my judgment be of great advantage for the United States to have the cooperation of those European powers which have succeeded in maintaining their neutrality. The principal states remaining neutral thus far are Holland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.
II. THE SITUATION IN HOLLAND
The mobilization of the army still continues. The reserves have been called to the colors. The popular feeling is quiet but very strong. New troops are drilling daily in the open square in front of this Legation. There is no disorder or confusion. The troops are massed along the frontier, particularly in that narrow portion of the province of Limburg which lies between Belgian and German territory. The Dutch fear that in case of a quick retreat or a sudden advance by the German forces a violation of this part of Limburg may occur. The German Government has given solemn assurance that it intends to respect the neutrality of Holland. But Holland dreads another case of that “necessity which knows no law.”
The arrangements made by the Government and the banks here to relieve the internal tension of money, and the measures to prevent an exorbitant rise in prices or a scarcity of food, have been successful. American certificates of consular registration have not been refused. (See your cable instruction of August 11.) Americans in this country have been perfectly safe, and entirely comfortable—except the nervous ones.
Remarkable courtesy and hospitality have been shown by private Dutch citizens to our people. All the hotels in The Hague have [Page 82] acted very well, except one, which made excessive charges and demanded an exorbitant rate of discount. I sent for the manager to come here and called him down distinctly. He refunded the money, and has since brought forth fruits meet for repentance.
The Holland-America Line has dispatched its boats regularly August 1, 8, and 15—and has been at great pains and expense to fit up two of these boats with extra accommodations for passengers. I personally inspected them before the sailing of the New Amsterdam last Saturday, and found them excellent. The rates of passage have not been raised.
We have been overwhelmed with labor day and night. Your response to my cabled request of August 31 for authority to endorse American travelers’ checks and drafts for necessary purposes, cooperating with the action of the Netherlands Government in securing the cashing of such endorsed checks and drafts here, has promptly and permanently relieved the situation. We have had no money strain here. But we have had to do an international banking business in small amounts on a large scale.
We have granted emergency passports, observing, with the utmost care possible in the circumstances, the regulations in regard to citizenship and expatriation, and endeavoring to avoid complications with the belligerent countries.
We have also conducted an inquiry and telegraph bureau, and have forwarded personal inquiries and despatches for German, Belgian, English and French citizens as well as for our own. I have obtained from the Belgian Minister here the courtesy of sending letters to Brussels in his mail pouch, and from the German Minister the same privilege in his courrier for Berlin. I shall make use of this privilege only for open letters, or letters addressed personally to our representatives in Berlin and Brussels.
I have transmitted two messages for the German Government to the American Minister in Brussels, for transmission, at his discretion, to the Belgian Government.
The Austrian Minister brought me a message from his Government on Tuesday night for transmission to our Legation in Brussels for the Austrian Legation there. He read me the message in German, but he offered it for transmission in a cipher which I could not read. I wrote him a polite note expressing my regret that my instructions prohibited me from sending a message in two different ciphers. I added that as the Austrian interests in Brussels had not been put in charge of our Legation there, my colleague might not understand my putting this matter in his hands, since it had to do with very intimate affairs of the Austrian Legation.
All personal messages, appeals or notices for humanitarian purposes, and messages dealing with the maintenance of international law, we are willingly transmitting. But I shall endeavor not to allow our country to be involved through its representatives in the military or political affairs of the belligerents.
The American Ambassador in Berlin inserted a notice in the London papers a few days ago, stating that I would transmit money from British subjects for their compatriots in Berlin under charge of the American Embassy. But he did not advise me of this, nor did he provide any means for me to transmit money or credits. The letters [Page 83] and telegrams began to pour in from England, and an inextricable confusion was threatened.
I therefore bought here with drafts drawn on you, 55,000 marks credit in Berlin, and sent cablegrams to you on August 12 and August 13,1 and telegraphed Ambassador Gerard as follows:
August 11. I have sent 5,000 marks credit to Dresdener Bank to be used against my credit telegrams to you. Van Dyke.
August 12. Have sent 50,000 marks credit to you Disconto Gesellschaft Bank to be used against my credit telegrams to you. Van Dyke.
I have already received very considerable sums of money and credits here from English sources which I have deposited in Marx & Company’s bank, as a separate account to be held against the above fund.
The heavy pressure of this work has made it necessary for me to employ as volunteer American secretaries of this Legation the carefully chosen persons whose names you will find in the enclosed list. They are working with the utmost devotion. The counsel of Professor Wilson on matters of international law is very valuable to me in this time of stress. Some of the gentlemen named replace others who have gone to America. None of them have asked remuneration, but I shall request authority from you to offer it to them at such a rate per day, and in such form of payment as you may approve.
Finally, I have the honor to withdraw the request for leave of absence from September 12 which was made in my despatch No. 110 of July 9.1 I shall remain at the post of duty as long as the need and danger continue.
I have [etc.]