File No. 763.72/1640
The Netherland Foreign Office to the Netherland Legation at Washington
by the Netherland Minister,
March 23, 1915.]
On Friday I answered declarations and decrees of Allies as follows:
Netherlands Government has been constrained to examine, not whether reciprocal measures of the belligerents are warranted, but as a neutral power it takes exception to any encroachment on neutral rights, the stand taken since the outbreak of the war for the maintenance of its rights and in the interest of the common cause of international law.
Contrary to Declaration of Paris, Allied navies will use constraint toward all private property whether enemy or neutral.
Decrees hold out mitigation without strictly defining rule.
Allied Governments have given assurance that they will heed interests of Netherlands and its colonies.
Yet Netherlands Government cannot pass unnoticed the grave invasion of fundamental rule of international law.