740.00112 European War 1939/36: Telegram
The Minister in the Netherlands (Gordon) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 9—10:45 a.m.]
164. For the Secretary and Under Secretary. My 160, September 8, 4 p.m. Foreign Office this morning received draft and [sic] reply note from Belgium declining in principle to accept the British proposal. While it does not say that the proposal involves an abandonment of neutrality, it points out that the interpretation and implements of articles 1 and 2 are quite uncertain and that the application of the principles which appear to underlie these articles seems susceptible of creating serious difficulties; by way of counterproposal, draft reply suggests that it would be much more practical to take up cases concretely as they arise. It states that the transitory provisions envisaged by article 5 are already in effect in Belgium. It expresses confidence that the well-known humanitarian principles of Britain will not permit of measures which could deprive Belgium of the importation of articles necessary to the sustenance of her population and voices the hope that Belgian ships now held up by the British will be allowed to proceed at the earliest possible moment.
The Dutch Government is considering this Belgian draft reply and at the moment is leaning toward agreement with the general tenor thereof.