File No. 763.72/9725
The Minister in the Netherlands ( Garrett) to the Secretary of State 1
[Received 5.36 p.m.]
2381. Loudon sent for French Minister at 11 o’clock last night and told him that since his talk with me yesterday afternoon he had seen the German Minister who had formally demanded (1) unrestricted and uncontrolled transit of sand and gravel and (2) permission for the German and Austrian ships at Antwerp to leave via Dutch waters.
Loudon asked Allizé to inform Townley and me, for transmission to our respective Governments, of the new climax that had arisen and [Page 1799] to ask whether it would be to the interest of the Associated Governments that Holland should resist the German demands to the point of breaking off relations and all the consequences thereof, which Rosen indicated would be inevitable in the event of a refusal of them.
Loudon did not tell Allizé whether or not he would await the answer of the Associated Governments before replying to the German demands and Allizé proposes to call upon him this afternoon and has suggested that Townley and I go with him to clear up any doubt that there may be.
- Repeated to the Ambassador in France, No. 3712, Apr. 25, midnight, with the instruction, “You will communicate at once with General Bliss and request his opinion as to the following despatch received tonight from The Hague.”↩