611.5631/247
The Minister in the Netherlands (Emmet) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 21.]
Shi: I have the honor to refer to the Legation’s telegram No. 60, of August 8, 1 p.m., 1935,13 and to report that as a result of cabled information received here from Mr. Lamping, a meeting of the subcommittee of the Cabinet was held yesterday, at which time it was definitely decided that Mr. Lamping and his assistants would remain in Washington and would immediately be joined by additional delegates, assistants and technical experts.
In addition to Mr. Lamping, who is now officially appointed chief of the delegation, and Dr. W. M. F. Mansvelt, of the East Indies Government, who is with him in Washington, the delegation will consist of Mr. C. J. I. M. Welter, former Minister of Colonies and a present Chairman of the Industrial Council of the Netherland Indies; Mr. B. Kleijn Molekamp, of the Legation in Washington; and Mr. C. C. C. van Stolk, director of the Government Central Bureau for Grain and Arables. In addition to these delegates there is Mr. A. Kerkhoven, of the Department of Economic Affairs, who is at present in Washington as assistant to Mr. Lamping. At a later date it is thought possible that an additional delegate may be sent in the person of Mr. van der Pool, of the Ministry of Finance, who will be of special assistance in matters connected with the tariff.
The decision of the Cabinet and the subsequent action taken indicates that the first conversations between the Department and Mr. Lamping have been satisfactory. All thought of recalling Lamping and holding a series of conferences here has apparently been abandoned and efforts will be made to facilitate the negotiations and to hurry them. Messrs. Welter and van Stolk are sailing within the next few days.
It is apparent that the preliminary conversations in Washington have cleared the atmosphere.14 Mr. Wilson and Mr. Bliss have been told by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Affairs that Mr. Lamping has been favorably impressed in Washington and that the outlook is encouraging for a fairly satisfactory agreement. Mr. Hooft, the director of the Economic Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that he now felt quite confident that things could go along in a satisfactory fashion but that there seemed to be some doubt about the East Indian side of the question. [Page 590] Although he would not be specific on this subject, his remark is repeated for what it may convey to the Department.
It should be added that Mr. Lamping and the other Netherland delegates went to Washington in somewhat pessimistic, not to say prejudiced mood. Despite all efforts which we were able to make here, the delegation sailed with a chip on its shoulder. That this attitude has so quickly vanished is greatly to the credit of the officers of the Department who conducted the preliminary conversations.
Respectfully yours,
[For text of the reciprocal trade agreement between the United States and the Netherlands, signed December 20, 1935, and exchange of notes and protocol, see Department of State Executive Agreement Series No. 100, or 50 Stat. 1504.]