File No. 656.119/133
The Minister in the Netherlands ( Garrett) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 18, 9.55 a.m.]
1899. Minister for Foreign Affairs has just informed me that he cabled on the 9th to his Legation, stating that prevailing uncertainty as to eventual return of the Nieuw Amsterdam from New York prompted him to ask you kindly to give [our] assurance that she would not be prevented from sailing back to Holland, explaining he received answer that you had promised reply for the 14th. He has just now received telegram stating that you had on Rappard’s repeated application promised a speedy decision. He asks me to cable you.
The passengers were embarked on the Nieuw Amsterdam on the evening of the 15th and she was to have sailed early yesterday morning. The Dutch Minister to Washington and some 450 other Dutch officials are on board. If it can be said that the delay in her departure is due to us, the interference is bound to be very damaging at a moment when it begins to look as if we were coming to an understanding. I think it can hardly be appreciated at home how great the effect of such reaction would be in this little country.