File No. 763.72111/4121

The Minister in the Netherlands (Van Dyke) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

643. Your October 10, 1 p. m. Since July 1914, a Royal decree has forbidden foreign war vessels of any kind including submarines to enter Netherlands harbors or waters. Declaration of neutrality August 4, 1914, Article 4, says: “The presence of no war vessels or assimilated ships of the belligerents will be tolerated within the jurisdiction of the state.” A British submarine ran aground in Dutch waters November last, a British submarine January last; both are now interned here with officers and crew.

The Netherlands Government has answered the Entente note of August last by referring to the above decree and proclamation, but has reserved the right, to decide whether a particular submarine is a war vessel or a merchant vessel.

The Netherlands Government has asked from Germany an immediate explanation in regard to the sinking of Dutch steamship Blommersdijk off the American coast October 8.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs told me that he would be glad if the American Government and the Netherlands Government could cooperate in the whole submarine question. I am free to say that this appears to me very desirable.

Van Dyke