750.94/108
The British Ambassador (Lothian) to the Secretary of State
Washington, May 12,
1940.
Dear Mr. Secretary: Confirming my
telephone conversation this morning I enclose a brief summary of the
information I obtained by telephone from London in response to the
representations you made to me yesterday.
Believe me [etc.]
[Page 737]
[Enclosure]
I got through to London early this morning as a result of
representations made by the Secretary of State and the President
yesterday. Lord Halifax told me that the following action would
be taken to-day:
1) His Majesty’s Government was making a public statement to the
effect that it had no intention whatever of intervening in the
Dutch East Indies. The Dutch Government has been asked to make a
public statement that it has no desire for any assistance from
outside in order to deal with the internal situation. Lord
Halifax is seeing the Japanese Ambassador to-day and
communicating this statement to him. It will also be published
in the press.
2) The following statement is being published to-day in London
and is being given to the American and Japanese press:
“As soon as the Dutch and the Allied Governments are
satisfied that the internal position in Curaçao and
Aruba have been fully established or as additional Dutch
forces are available in sufficient numbers arrangements
will at once be made for the immediate withdrawal of the
British and French forces on the islands. There has
never of course at any time been any intention to alter
the status of the islands.”
(As this statement was only obtained by telephone I cannot
guarantee its verbal accuracy.)
3) This action has been reported to the British Ambassador in
Tokyo.
