File No. 656.119/390

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

[Telegram]

2426. [Statement referred to in the foregoing telegram:]

[1. (a)]
A limitation of the products in transit to 1,600,000 tons less the amounts already allowed for the current year. If the Netherlands Government is not able to insist on the formation of a commission of experts to obtain on the spot all possible information regarding the use of the sand and gravel, it is nevertheless desirable that the Government at least obtains an undertaking from the German Government giving a formal assurance that the sand and gravel will not be used for military purposes. The Dutch officials in the occupied territories might be asked to communicate to the Netherlands Government their observations regarding the failure to execute the undertaking given.
(b) Reduction of the 250,000 tons of products of Dutch origin which are mentioned as a possible offer to Germany in exchange for coal and iron.
2.
No modification of the decision reached by the Netherlands Government in respect to the ships interned at Antwerp or of the principles of neutrality as applied up to the present date by the Government or as interpreted from existing conventions if new questions should arise.
3.
The transit over Dutch territory shall continue to be reserved exclusively for the transportation of civil goods to the exclusion of all food destined for the army.
4.
The proposed arrangements in regard to the customs are not to invalidate either inspection or punishment which would encourage frauds (notably the confiscation of the goods and means of conveyance and the conviction of many delinquents).
Garrett