File No. 656.119/231½
Memorandum of The Assistant to the Counselor for the Department of State ( Auchincloss)
The Dutch Minister called and spoke very earnestly about the present situation in Holland with respect to grains. He handed me a copy of a cable received from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, which I attach hereto.1 He stated that two things were troubling him:
- (1)
- The fact that the negotiations carried on in London apparently were not final and had to be referred to the War Trade Board for approval;
- (2)
- That the United States did not recognize the fact that the Dutch Government could not carry through any agreement which was not approved by Germany.
He begged most earnestly for releases of grain so as to forestall riots and disturbances which he said would occur in Holland were the food shortage to continue.
He said that he wanted very much to have the Nieuw Amsterdam return to Holland at the earliest possible moment2 so as to prove to his Government that the American Government would live up to its promise to permit this boat to return, provided the assurance was given this Government that the Nieuw Amsterdam would return here forthwith.
He said that it would be very satisfactory if the cargo of the Samarinda, now at Norfolk, which amounted to 7,000 tons of rice could be loaded on the Nieuw Amsterdam on her return trip, together with certain oil cakes referred to in the telegram. I promised to do what I could for him with Mr. McCormick. He said that he felt that he must ask for an audience with the President so as to acquaint him with the desperate situation now prevalent in Holland. He said that if we were not a little bit more generous they would be forced to accede to Germany’s terms.