File No. 656.119/200½
The Minister in the Netherlands ( Garrett) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 7, 2.20 a.m.]
2101. My 2008 [2088], March 3, 5 p.m. Both the British and French Ministers, the former in answer to instructions asking his advice as to what should be done to prepare public opinion here as far as possible in anticipation of the lapse of the modus vivendi and the putting into use of Dutch shipping without it, are cabling their Governments.
We have talked over this matter somewhat in the following sense. There was a great outburst of complaint here over the sand and gravel question, and the resulting restrictions on commercial cables, and for part of it the lack of action of the British Government was blamed, in that the measures took the public unawares, no account of the situation, or explanation of the necessity of the steps taken to meet it, having been given out beforehand. Such blame at least should be avoided as far as possible this time. They therefore ask instructions, and I ask for similar ones, to enable them to say what is considered necessary, to the Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs for publication by him. We might say in effect:
- (1)
- That we are all acting in accord; that it is not an individual action by one of the Allies.
- (2)
- That a modus vivendi had been reached for the putting into use of Dutch tonnage; that by it we were to have the use of the ships, not to bargain for them during more than a month; and that we are forced to conclude that the modus vivendi has not been lived up to by the Dutch and has therefore ceased to be in effect; that opposition by our enemies seems to have made it impossible for the Dutch Government to carry out its part of this arrangement.
- (3)
- That because of this opposition, we are driven to putting into use the Dutch tonnage on terms, it may be stated, quite advantageous to the owners of that tonnage.
- (4)
- That the tonnage thus put to use of course remains Dutch after the war.
- (5)
- The Allies are prepared moreover to come to an agreement for the rationing of Holland, and to set aside in an American port for immediate delivery to the Dutch Government a certain amount of bread cereals, the Dutch to send their ships now in Holland to fetch it, under guarantees, of course, that we will not detain these ships but will permit as far as we are concerned, their return laden to Holland, we of course agreeing also to supply them the necessary bunkers.
Perhaps it might be decided with advantage to instruct us immediately to announce the setting aside of grain for the Dutch Government in an American port, and let the other announcements be made subsequently, but soon, and certainly before Monday next.
I beg respectfully to suggest that the words “seizure” or “requisition” be carefully avoided. We are as a matter of fact only putting into use the idle Dutch tonnage, greatly to Dutch owners’ advantage. After statement as above has been made it would seem to be advisable that the joint conference in London should also give out statements carefully that would have the desired effect.