File No. 656.119/549

The Minister in the Netherlands ( Garrett) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

3189. Your 1579, June 13, 5 p.m.1 British Minister tells me that the Minister for Foreign Affairs assures him that all the terms of the British note of April [June] 7, telegraphed you in my 3166 [3163], June 13, 4 p.m., are acceptable to Dutch Government, and Townley believes that [Loudon] has so informed British Government through Dutch Legation at London.

Minister for Foreign Affairs sends me certificate and manifest of Noordam with note in which he says that he instructed Beaufort on April 23 to inform you of proposed sailing of convoy, and to give you details which he now informs me of, by enclosing copy of his note to the British Legation mentioned in my 3075, June 7, 12 a.m.1 These two notes contain nothing pertinent in addition to what I have already telegraphed you in my 3075, and telegrams therein referred to, except that a list of the military personnel on board the Tabanan, and of the civil and military personnel and their families on the Noordam are at my disposal if I desire to see them. The certificate reads: “The undersigned, Secretary General of the Netherlands Ministry for the Colonies, declares herewith that all goods mentioned in the annexed manifest, and loaded in the steamship Noordam of the steamship company Holland-America Line, are goods the transport of which none of the belligerent powers object to. The goods are intended for the Dutch East Indian Government Service.” Manifest covers approximately 8,559 cases and casks, all consigned to the Governor-General of the Netherlands [Indies], and containing [Page 1504] aniline dyes, machinery, silver in coins, wadding, drugs, and medical supplies, bicycles, foodstuffs, etc.

As to the return voyage there is no information obtainable except public statement that cocoanut oil will form part of return cargo. Townley informs this morning that the manifest goes to London on the next cross-channel convoy which is about to leave, and that it can only then be decided in London whether the cargo and other terms are such as will enable the British Government to permit the Dutch convoy to proceed.

Garrett
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