File No. 656.119/385
The Minister in the Netherlands ( Garrett) to the Secretary of State
[Received (April 27?) 1.06 p.m.]
2390. Your 1127, April 24, 4 p.m. It is impossible not to share your disappointment at the tone of certain of the newspaper comment to which you refer. Some of the pro-German papers have naturally criticized and cast doubt on our good faith and some of the generally fair papers have let themselves go a bit. There is of course a deep-seated resentment against us for the seizure of their [Page 1480] ships. But these outbursts do not represent public opinion, which has welcomed our offer, nor do they represent private opinion of some members of the Government and of many of leading men of Holland who have let it be known how they deprecate these attacks. Publicly, however, for reasons connected with fear of Germany the Government seems to think that it must show that it has in no wise acquiesced in the forcible requisition of Dutch vessels or made up to the countries which carried out that measure. Perhaps also because they may want written guarantees from Germany, they must insist on having them from us in order to be perfectly neutral and to give not the slightest excuse to German duplicity, supposing Germany would think it worth while to wait for an excuse.
Our intentions have been impressed upon the Dutch people but it cannot be overlooked that there have been some features of our actions which can only be understood and appreciated here after a suitable time has elapsed.
Announcement in a press despatch, dated New York, that you were considering the withdrawal of our offer to let three ships leave with grain for Holland is referred to as a threat by one important paper, but in fact is hardly noticed. The attention of [tension with] Germany, which is indicated in my telegrams of the last few days,1 is turning every critic away from us, and Dutch nerves are at a tension which may not be far from breaking point. In your note of April 12, your 1102,2 you said that arrangements were being perfected to tender to the Netherlands Government other commodities which they desire to promote their national welfare, and for which they might freely send their ships, and in your 7130, April 3, 5 [7] p.m.,3 to London you said: “We are of the opinion that the time is now appropriate to offer to Holland substantially all of the commodities which she would have secured under the general rationing agreement.” I ask you to make or authorize me to make a straightout offer of a quarter’s rations in the line of the above suggestions and to insist on British agreement if that is necessary. I am told that [Loudon] will agree to what you want if you sufficiently insist. I think we can negotiate for what the British want afterward, but that we should make the offer at once and without restriction and couple with it a renewal of our statement that ships sent from Holland or Dutch colonial ports to fetch these goods will be free from detention and will be freely bunkered and [given] a comprehensive guarantee against requisitioning such as you mentioned in your 1122, April 22, 6 p.m.4