File No. 656.119/388
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 27, 1.55 a.m.]
9737. War Trade Board [from Sheldon]:
No. 485. My 470.1 Following is the text of proposed joint declaration which, if you approved, it is planned that the Allied Ministers of The Hague shall give to the Netherlands Foreign Office:
The Associated Governments hereby declare that they have ceased the requisitioning of Dutch vessels. Further they declare that notwithstanding the greater world shortage, they continue ready, subject to the terms of the basis of agreement, negotiated with the Netherlands delegates in December last, to facilitate the importation by the Netherlands in Dutch [vessels] of the commodities specified in that document. Among those commodities are bread cereals, including rice, sago, tapioca, starch, and malt. Following in thousands of tons: malt 400, coffee 35, mineral oils 140, copper 4, jute 5, cocoa 8, tea 5, tin 1, kapoc 1, and tanning materials 13,400, hemp [Page 1483] 3,500. Similarly 100,000 tons of coal per month,1 [including coal, tar pitch, will be licensed from the United Kingdom. Already 100,000 tons of the above cereals have been placed at Holland’s disposal in the Americas and arrangements are being made for their shipment in Dutch vessels.
Dutch ships sent to lift the commodities specified will, in accordance with the terms of the proposed basis of agreement above referred to, receive bunkers and be cleared with the utmost possible despatch. The amount of Dutch tonnage now in Dutch waters is believed to be more than sufficient for this purpose but if the contrary proves to be the case the Associated Governments are ready to make up the difference in order that the] tonnage allocated for Dutch requirements may be brought up to the figure decided on in the proposed basis of agreement. In making this declaration the Associated Governments understand that the arrangements for carrying on the relief work in Belgium and northern France will be facilitated and not interfered with by the Netherlands Government.
It is believed that the translation [declaration] that the Governments have ceased requisitioning vessels will cover the objections pointed out in your telegram No. 345.2 The statement that the Associated Governments will be ready to meet any deficiency in tonnage should the boats in Dutch waters be insufficient for lifting rations, was contained in the Foreign Office note to The Hague, March 21,3 latter part of clause 10. If you approve this declaration please cable immediately and notify Garrett to present same when he receives it and confer with his colleagues as to the advisability of publishing it in the papers. I will telegraph Garrett the text as soon as you approve. I think it important that our censorship should use great care in what Reuter is permitted to send to this side which is likely to create further discussion of the Dutch situation regarding food and ships. As an example the Reuter quotation of Associated Press telegram from Washington, D. C., stating that three ships with grain would be withdrawn owing to hostile comment in Dutch press.