740.00112 European War 1939/717: Telegram
The Minister in the Netherlands (Gordon) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:14 p.m.]
307. My 304, December 7, 6 p.m.69 Consideration is being given to the question of the Dutch Government testing before the Permanent Court of International Justice the legality of British and French reprisal blockade measures. Although England and France on September 7 and 10 declared that they would no longer be bound by any obligation to accept a decision of the court in matters arising out of the present war the Dutch Government has now notified the Secretary General of the League of Nations that it reserves all its rights with respect to these declarations.
Inasmuch as Holland has an arbitration treaty with France it is also possible that as regards that country the question might be brought up under the procedure prescribed by the said treaty.
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