Office of the Historian

File No. 656.119/117

The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]
London, January 2, 1918, 5 p.m.
[Received January 3, 2.40 a.m.]

8130. Sheldon asks that the gist of the following be transmitted to the War Trade Board:

As result of conference, Snouck has agreed to recommend to his Government the gist of provisional tonnage arrangement, and you are requested to cable your instructions as soon as possible.

1.
All vessels in United States ports, except those mentioned in clauses 2 and 3, to be sent out for one round trip, as designated by the United States authorities, outside present submarine zone and not all to go on long trips. Of these vessels an amount to be determined by the United States Government up to a limit of 150,000 tons, to be employed in the service of the Commission for Relief in Belgium. On the departure of a vessel for Holland in Belgian Relief service a corresponding vessel will leave Holland for the United States.
2.
In addition to the foregoing but without in any way being a condition to the preceding arrangement, the Dutch Government desires the release of the Zeelandia for Holland against the sailing to the United States of the Frisia while not making this a condition and Dutch are particularly anxious for this exchange, to enable the Frisia to carry passengers destined to the East Indies via the United States, and have the Zeelandia bring her passengers to Holland.
3.
On the same conditions as in clause 2 the Dutch are anxious to have the steamships Celebes, Ceylon, Nias, Ternate, Gorontalo, Adonis, Hercules and Samarinda proceed from United States ports to Holland with cargoes as agreed; viz., no cereals, feed stuffs, fertilizers or oil seed beyond some 10,000 tons of rice, a similar number of corresponding ships to leave Holland for United States ports as soon as final clearance for Holland has been granted to the eight ships named.

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