740.00112 European War 1939/73: Telegram
The Minister in the Netherlands (Gordon) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 15—3:40 p.m.]
176. For the Secretary and Under Secretary. I have conveyed the contents of the Department’s 88, September 14, 6 p.m. to Foreign Minister and Secretary General who were much gratified to learn that we were already engaged in conversations with the British. All the more so as the Foreign Minister had just prepared for communication to me a proposal of the same general nature which he wished to submit for our Government’s appreciation.
A brief memorandum which the Foreign Minister gave me reads substantially as follows: He felt that it might have a sobering effect on British tendencies to interfere with neutral shipping and especially with neutral merchandise in neutral bottoms destined for neutral countries, if the neutral countries concerned should make it known in London that while the rights of belligerents under international law to impose certain limitations on neutral trade are recognized, the neutral countries must insist that British measures of this nature taken against neutral merchandise and shipping be not attended with undue delay but that the British authorities take necessary steps to insure all reasonable celerity.
Amplifying this brief memorandum the Foreign Minister explained that what he wished to inquire was whether we would be disposed to take the initiative in securing the agreement of neutral countries, South American as well as European, to make representations of this nature; if so, his thought was that these representations while not to be made jointly in a body by the diplomatic representatives in London of the neutral countries concerned should be made severally by such representatives on the same day and the representations should of course recite that they were being made in common accord.
As the Department may be aware upwards of 100 Dutch ships alone have been detained in British waters, for what in view of the duration of hostilities is an unduly long time, for cargo examination and discharge in connection with which facilities normally to be expected even at such a time as this have not been prepared; it is also to be noted that some of these ships have been ordered to go as far as Hull and Middlesbrough for these operations.
It is clear that the Foreign Minister hopes that the idea of giving a lead to South American countries as well as to European neutrals may appeal to us.