File No. 855. 48/479

The Minister in Belgium ( Whitlock) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

46. Referring again to Department’s telegram 256, February 26, 5 p.m. Telegrams have passed between the King of Spain and the Queen of the Netherlands, and understand an exchange of views between the two Governments resulting in an agreement on their part that in the event of the Americans withdrawing from Belgium they will offer to replace the delegates by men of their nationalities, a majority of whom will be Dutch, but it is their desire that the commission continue under its present patronage and as nearly as may be as at present organized with the offices at London, New York, and Rotterdam conducted as at present by Americans, and if possible with an American director in Belgium. Loudon, Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs, says this plan has the support of the Allied governments and that he has recruited enough Dutchmen to replace the American delegates in Belgium and Northern France. [Page 650] I have an official letter from the Dutch Chargé d’Affaires here stating that he is ready at any time to designate the Dutchmen for this service. Inasmuch as this plan, as well as Hoover’s plan and all the several plans proposed for the reorganization of work, contemplates replacing the American delegates in Belgium by Dutchmen, I think that the Dutchmen should be designated at once and that they should come in as understudies to the Americans, and that as soon as possible the Americans be relieved. The Germans have several times officially reiterated their assurances that the delegates may leave when they desire and have frequently promised to put these assurances in writing though they have not yet done so. One can place so little reliance in their promises, whether oral or written, when it suits their convenience to disregard them, that I strongly feel it to be my duty to recommend early action that will permit the American delegates to depart before the situation becomes more difficult.

Whitlock