File No. 763.72112Sa/6
The Netherland Chargé ( De Beaufort) to the Secretary of State
Sir: Acting under instructions from my Government I have the honor to inform you of the following:
[Page 1501]As a reprisal for the requisition of Netherland tonnage and for the arrangements including cession of tonnage made by other neutrals, Germany has promulgated a new article of her prize regulations according to which the ships of the neutral countries concerned are seizable.
This new rule applies to Netherland ships unless they are provided with a safe-conduct of the German authorities.
The Netherland Government have protested against the legality of this new rule, but it does not seem probable that this will bring any change.
As Germany controls the free passage in the North Sea, the Netherland ships are liable to be seized and several ships in the Scandinavian trade have already been brought up.
The Netherland Government cannot incur the risk of having the Netherland tonnage further diminished. It can, moreover, not be in the interest of the Associated Governments to have Netherland tonnage brought to German ports and declared prize.
A safe-conduct has been granted for the exchange-ships for the S.S. Java, Stella and Hollandia. The S.S. Nieuw Amsterdam falls outside the scope of an arrangement and can sail on mutual guarantee of return.
As the Netherland Government trust that the United States Government earnestly wish to facilitate the supply of 100,000 tons of cereals and after this of whatever may be fixed under an agreement to be concluded, my Government expect that the ships Jason, Amsteldyk and Cornelis, mentioned in my note of May 25, will be placed at their entire disposal and accorded facilities for transporting cargoes to the Netherlands.
According to an arrangement with Germany the guarantee will then be given by the Netherland Government that these ships after their arrival in the Netherlands can return to the United States in the same way as the Nieuw Amsterdam.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs at The Hague has informed the United States Minister there, that he is prepared to negotiate at The Hague a general arrangement fixing the rations, etc., due to the Netherlands for the ships which have been requisitioned.
I trust that the United States Government, realizing the extreme needs of my country and desirous therefor to facilitate the early settlement of this matter, will agree to the arrangement as set forth above.
Please accept [etc.]