File No. 656.119/413a
The Secretary of State to the Minister in the Netherlands ( Garrett )
1127. The Department is disappointed at the popular response accorded the offer relative to the Hollandia, Juno, and Java. Press comment forwarded by you and other reports received indicate that this offer has been misconstrued and has been very generally interpreted [Page 1469] as a further coercive measure directed against the Netherlands. This offer involved a departure from the general method of procedure which we felt should be adopted and which would require supplies for Holland to be carried exclusively by ships now in Dutch ports. The offer was made as a result of your two urgent cables No. 2276, April 6, 6 p.m.,1 and No. 2284, April 10, 1 p.m.,2 which represented that the making of such an offer would greatly improve the situation and would create great popular satisfaction. The Department realizes that hostile influences are doubtless at work, seeking to create a false impression as to our purpose, yet this very fact makes it important that you should be aggressive in presenting the true intentions of this Government and emphasizing the favorable features of our action.