File No. 763.72/9726
The Minister in the Netherlands ( Garrett ) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 26, 9.05 a.m.]
2383. My cipher telegram 2381, April 25, 12 noon. The Minister for Foreign Affairs asked me to come to see him this afternoon with my French and British colleagues. He referred to conversation with Allizé last night which I telegraphed you. He had just come from a Cabinet council and said that they had decided to refuse absolutely the German demand in regard to the ships at Antwerp. In regard to sand and gravel he had talked again with Rosen who told him that Germany would be content with the transit of a limited amount which he put at 1,600,000 tons per annum. Germany would also require the exportation of 250,000 tons of Dutch gravel per month. Loudon thought the amount for export might be the subject of reduction and that it might be a useful weapon in his hands in demanding coal from Germany in return. There was no further modification of the demands as communicated to you in my 2381. Loudon thinks that he cannot delay his answer to the German demands longer than three or four days. He told us that he unfortunately could not help believing that these demands were a pretext for further demands which Holland might not be able to consider.
My colleagues and I came away with the conviction that the situation from the Dutch standpoint is most serious and perhaps critical. We are convinced that we should help Holland in our own interests to meet these present German demands as best she can without a break and that if they are the pretext for further and impossible demands on Holland’s neutrality she will side with us or rather against Germany for all she is worth. Both of my colleagues are telegraphing in the above sense to their Governments.
Townley tells me that the situation up to yesterday has been referred to the Council at Versailles.