740.0011 Pacific War/1443
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck)
The Netherlands Minister called me on the telephone late last evening and, referring to the papers which I had left at his residence for him, relating to the question of destruction of oil fields in the Netherlands East Indies, stated that on Saturday afternoon the question had been brought to his attention at the instance of our Navy Department through his Naval Attaché; that he had immediately telegraphed to his Government; that he had now received a reply which did not “satisfy” him; that his Government raised the question of “protecting investments”; and that, in the light of our memoranda, he was going to telegraph his Government stating that this Government strongly urged that action be taken as recommended by Admiral Hart.74
I asked that the Minister reread carefully our statement regarding “the situation as we see it from here …”.75 I said that we are not insisting that the opinion of the American Admiral should be conclusive, but we are pointing out that this seems to us to be primarily a military question and the problem is one in which military considerations should be controlling; and we emphasize that the taking of proper measures—whatever they may be—should not be delayed until too late. The Minister said that he would inform his Government accurately of our views and of his.