File No. 855.48/195
The Minister in the Netherlands ( Van Dyke ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9.16 p. m.]
173. German Minister here has received instructions which prevent giving safe-conduct for the ships of the Commission for Relief in Belgium from Rotterdam unless they take the route north of Shetlands.2 I have informed him on advices from Hoover in London that this policy will probably result in stopping the action of commission. He has telegraphed to Berlin for further instructions. I would advise strong representations through the medium of American Ambassador at Berlin to secure respect for commission flag and safe conduct for their ships direct to and from Rotterdam.
- On March 2, the office of the commission in New York reported the receipt of a similar notification from the German Embassy regarding ships bound for Rotterdam (File No. 855.48/197).↩