File No. 656.119/199
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 4, 8 p.m.]
8894. War Trade Board [from Sheldon]:
No. 225. Referring to your unnumbered through State Department 0709, February 27, 9 p.m. As a result of conversations with Cecil with my approval he stated to Vollenhoven that owing to the [Page 1402] unwillingness of the Dutch Government to carry out the modus vivendi and the fact that after over two months of waiting no proposals had come from the Dutch Government that would give us any hopes that a definite agreement might be concluded, the Allies could not wait indefinitely, and he told Vollenhoven that some inter-Allied maritime conference was taking place in London next Monday. He further informed Vollenhoven he believed that [if] the Dutch Government signified their willingness before next Monday to sign the tonnage part of the definite arrangement, he believed the Allies will furnish Holland 100,000 tons of bread grains for delivery in May and June on condition that the boats should start at appropriate time from Holland to the designated destination to lift this amount. The import of this communication was, and the intimation was, understood that should a satisfactory settlement of the Dutch tonnage situation not be arrived at by Monday next there was every prospect of all Dutch tonnage being requisitioned.