File No. 654.119/231a
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland ( Stovall)
1740. Your No. 3012, April 5, 6 p.m.1 Prior to requisitioning of Netherland ships, three of these ships aggregating approximately 17,000 tons had been chartered for Swiss relief. Requisitioning operated to cancel these charters but as set out in Department 1677, March 26, 7 p.m., we at once offered to Switzerland these same three ships for a round trip and approximately 50,000 tons in addition for regular service until the termination of the agreement of December 5, in event safe conduct should be secured from German Government. Swiss Minister has informed us that it has as yet been impossible to secure such safe conduct and he indicates little hope that this can be obtained.
We have accordingly been giving very careful consideration to other possible ways of transporting grain to Switzerland and in this connection have considered possibility of arranging with Netherland Government that certain requisitioned ships should remain under Dutch flag and be put into service of Swiss relief. We have, however, concluded that this procedure is impracticable; first, because the present temper of Holland is such that we cannot expect her to negotiate with us relative to requisitioned ships or to take any action which might imply recognition of or acquiescence in requisition; secondly, because if ships were sent out under Dutch flag and Dutch officers and crew no satisfactory assurance could be obtained that these vessels would return, and finally there would be doubt whether Germany would grant safe conduct for these vessels, knowing that if granted immunity they would ultimately be put into use of Associated Governments.
Our present plan is to send 17,000 tons of wheat to France in armed vessels and without German safe conduct, this wheat or an equivalent amount from French stocks to be delivered to Switzerland. We recognize that this is but a temporary expedient and we are considering other methods of relieving the situation. We feel it most important, however, that Switzerland be not permitted to relax her efforts to secure safe conducts from Germany.
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