File No. 656.119/323
The Secretary of State to the Minister in the Netherlands ( Garrett )
1088. Your No. 2271, April 6, 11 a.m. Our assurance relative to Prinses Juliana was made on oral representation of Netherland Minister that this vessel was en route to San Francisco and would shortly arrive there. Minister stated that many prominent Dutch citizens including officials were at San Francisco ready to return to Java by steamer Juliana. He asked whether vessel would be detained at San Francisco, as if so these people would plan to return to Java by another vessel. Since President’s proclamation in any event only applied to vessels in our waters on March 20, we gave assurance that Prinses Juliana would not be detained on her arrival at San Francisco but would be allowed to return to Java. We are utterly surprised to learn that Prinses Juliana is only now at Hongkong, and if the vessel was seized there it was in no way in violation of our assurance which only related to exemption from seizure in event of her arrival at San Francisco. Neither we nor British Embassy have any official confirmation of seizure at Hongkong but British Embassy has at once cabled for information on this point. After considering the explicitly limited character of our assurance and the representations upon which it was based, please cable us your recommendation in the event it shall develop to be a fact that this steamer was seized by British at Hongkong. In meantime you are authorized to discuss this matter informally with the Foreign Office in such manner as you may deem wise.