File No. 124.55/27a
The Secretary of State to the Netherland Minister (Van Rappard)
My Dear Mr. Minister: In view of the very serious difficulties in carrying on the relief work in Belgium and northern France, this Government feels that no useful purpose is to be served by maintaining a staff of American delegates in the territory occupied by German troops. I have to-day, therefore, by direction of the President, instructed the American Minister at Brussels to withdraw from Belgium, accompanied by all American officials and the American members of the Commission for Relief in Belgium.
It is, of course, essential that the humanitarian work of the commission be maintained and my Government is, therefore, glad to approve the proposal made by you on February 14, to the effect that “the Netherland Government would be glad to form a committee of Dutch subjects who would work under its patronage and take over … the duties till now performed by the American commission.”
I venture to suggest, therefore, that you be good enough to inform your Government of the proposed withdrawal of the American members of the commission and to propose that the Rotterdam office of the Commission for Relief in Belgium be consulted as to the number of Dutch subjects it may be necessary to send into Belgium to carry on the work.
I am [etc.]