740.0011 European War 1939/2308: Telegram
The Ambassador in Belgium (Cudahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 18—1:30 p.m.]
87. For the President and Secretary of State only. While the present crisis is believed to be passed there is a feeling that the lull is only temporary and that the threat of German invasion remains with the fundamentals of the situation unchanged.
The King sent for me this morning and asked me to tell the President that he considered the invasion of Belgium only matter of time. He asked me very earnestly to request the President to formulate a statement for publication to be issued at the time German invasion next appears imminent. In this statement it would be set forth that the United States could not view with indifference and would be profoundly shocked by a violation of Belgian neutrality and that Great Britain and France do not contemplate a peace for the destruction of Germany and the humiliation of the German people.
I impressed upon the King that the effect of such a statement would be dependent entirely upon its timing. He said he realized this and would advise me when he considered the time opportune.
I believe the proposal for the President to make a statement that the United States could not view with indifference and would be profoundly shocked by a violation of Belgian neutrality is consistent with the position of the President but I would advise against any prediction or anything approaching a commitment in regard to the British and French peace terms.