740.00119 EW/11–546

Memorandum by the Netherland Government 46

The Royal Netherlands Government deem it opportune to formulate their point of view with regard to the demarcation of the future Netherlands-German frontier, and related problems.

In this connection Her Majesty’s Government refer to their statement* of October 28th, 1944, which was brought to the notice of the Governments of the Allied Nations. In this statement Her Majesty’s Government pointed out, inter alia, that a complex of measures taken by the occupying power had created a situation in the Netherlands of so serious a nature as to jeopardize the country’s future recovery. On this ground the Netherlands Government reserved the right to put forward their point of view and to formulate their demands after the liberation of the Netherlands.

In the period elapsed since, it has been possible to survey the total amount of the losses suffered by the national economy. It has been proved that, if the Netherlands are to recover some measure of their national prosperity, the provision of certain compensations on the part of Germany will be indispensable. At the same time it will be necessary to envisage the safeguarding of the Netherlands economic system against discriminative German measures, such as have been taken in the past to the detriment of the Netherlands.

Her Majesty’s Government have examined the question in what manner the incontestable claim to reparations on the part of Germany, [Page 1017] to which the Netherlands are entitled, can be brought into effect, with due consideration of the claims of other Allied Nations. It has become clear that the damage inflicted on the national economy has reached such proportions, that adequate compensation in the form of an allocation of German territory will not be practicable, in view of the extent of the annexations that would be involved. The Netherlands Government therefore are of opinion that the solution of the problem should mainly be approached on different lines. In this Her Majesty’s Government have also been led by the consideration that the people of the Netherlands are traditionally opposed to annexation; besides, the Netherlands Government are unwilling to urge a solution which might harbour the seeds of future conflict, and of German irredentism, which in its turn might develop into a danger to peace and security in Europe.

Her Majesty’s Government are therefore prepared to limit their territorial claims to certain frontier rectifications and to seek indemnification for the losses and damages sustained, in the economic sphere primarily. It is their considered opinion that thus, while making a material contribution to peace and security and the amity of the European nations, the prerequisites for the recovery of the national economy will also be created. The Netherlands Government are fully aware that in this way no complete indemnification for the direct damages and losses inflicted by the enemy can be realized; and though they are no less aware that thus heavy burdens will be imposed upon the Dutch people, Her Majesty’s Government are prepared to shoulder the responsibility of these burdens, provided always that the conditions, indispensable to the country’s economic recovery, be established.

It should be remarked at this stage that with the Questions and wishes to be mentioned hereafter the problem of the economic relations between the Netherlands and Germany is far from having been exhaustively dealt with. When the German question in its general aspect will be discussed in detail, several other problems will have to be raised by the Netherlands Government.

But the points discussed so far are of such paramount importance for the Netherlands that their satisfactory solution must of necessity be considered a vital factor in the economic recovery of the country.

The wishes of the Netherlands Government in the economic sphere are set forth in Annex 1.47 They can be distinguished in desiderata of a general economic character and demands of a more specified nature.

1. As a first specific demand the Netherlands are desirous to obtain for a period, in the first instance, of forty to fifty years, a number of German mining concessions mainly on the left bank of the Rhine, [Page 1018] situated by preference between the eastern border of the province of Limburg and the Rhine.48

The use to be made of these concessions shall be left to the decision of the Netherlands. The arrangement is to comprise concessions whether in actual exploitation or not, as well as any tracts or fields for which as yet no concession has been issued.

The Netherlands Government desire to stress the direct and vital economic importance to the Netherlands of obtaining these concessions (a number of mines considered in this connection has been specified in Annex 1). With respect to coal the Netherlands would thereby be enabled to balance the coal import and to broaden the basis of the coal position which is indispensable for the further industrialization of the country in connection also with the steadily growing population.

With respect to potassium some wishes have been formulated in Annex 1.49

2. The three following demands are of a general economic character. Measures will have to be effected with regard to the charges of German rail, road and water transport as well as the port and storage charges, so as to prevent in future an unfair bias in their competition against the Netherlands ports. In all probability this will only be practicable by the establishment of inter-allied control on these tariffs generally for a period further to be decided. The Netherlands will have to be actively concerned in the machinery to be created for such control.

3. As a logical complement of the above Germany should be prohibited to construct new canals, tending to divert Rhine traffic into other than its natural channels.

4. The Netherlands deem it essential that the German monetary [Page 1019] policy be conducted in a manner that will leave their vital interests unaffected. The memory is still vivid of the discriminatory character of German foreign currency regulations in the decade preceding the war, and of the strenuous effort called for on the part of the Netherlands to safeguard their interests, notwithstanding the country’s strong economic position at that time.

Not only the traffic of goods but especially services rendered, amongst which the Rhine traffic deserves separate mention, were seriously impaired by the restrictive currency policy as practised by Germany.

Her Majesty’s Government are fully aware of the fact that for a considerable time to come there will be no question of free monetary traffic between the Netherlands and Germany, but they consider their desire justified, in the interests of the Netherlands economy, that in case the natural route of German export or import passes Netherlands harbours, the services rendered are to be paid for effectively. This demand applies likewise to the Netherlands transit commerce. These economic demands cannot but be considered reasonable in view of the financial and economic chaos wrought by the war in the Netherlands. The Netherlands Government trust therefore that these demands will meet with the ready reception which, in the Government’s opinion, they fully deserve.

It has already been set forth above that the Netherlands Government are opposed in principle to territorial expansion through annexation. In seeking restoration Her Majesty’s Government have therefore laid the main stress on economic demands; apart from this however they feel compelled to make their wishes known as regards a certain number of rectifications of the Netherlands-German border. In formulating these territorial claims Her Majesty’s Government deem it advisable to practise the greatest restraint.

The tortuousness of the Netherlands-German borderline has repeatedly caused difficulties in the past. These unsatisfactory conditions should now be settled. From the appended maps50 it may be seen how the frontierline will, in the opinion of Her Majesty’s Government have to run in future. An explanatory commentary may be found in Annex 2.51

[Page 1020]

In laying down their view on the frontier rectification the Netherlands Government have been guided by the following considerations:

1.
Shortening of the frontier line;
2.
improvement of local communications;
3.
local improvement of canal and waterworks;
4.
improvements from the social and economic point of view;
5.
redress of local anomalies.

One of the results of the rectifications as indicated will be that the frontier-line between the Netherlands and Germany will be reduced from 525 kilometers to 340 kilometers, this reduction to be effected by the cession of no more than 1750 square kilometers to the Netherlands.

As regards the German population domiciled in the territory to be ceded, Her Majesty’s Government aim at incorporating as few German subjects as possible in the Netherlands body politic.

This principle finds, for instance, its practical application in the region to the east of Dinxperlo and Nijmegen, where the Netherlands Government demand a smaller rectification than would appear logically indicated, in view of the dense population in this area.

According to statistical data of 1939 approximately 119.000 people live in the territory to be ceded. This population is for the greater part German. However, apart from Netherlanders, non-German aliens are found among the population, especially near South Limburg.

In view of the Netherlands Government the autochthonous population in the aforesaid areas, which can prove to have resided there before May 10th, 1940, should be allowed to stay. In this connection it should be remarked that the “human rights” are fully guaranteed by the Netherlands constitution.

Only those persons whose attitude during the National-Socialistic regime precludes their incorporation in the Netherlands body-politic, as well as recognized war-criminals, shall be expelled.

As has been set forth above Her Majesty’s Government consider the compliance with their economic demands of primary importance to the economic restoration of the Netherlands; they therefore restrict their territorial demands to frontier-rectifications.

However Her Majesty’s Government wish to emphasize that the two matters are closely interrelated; therefore should their economic demands—in particular those concerning mining concessions—not meet with the expected approval, the Netherlands Government expressly reserve their right to put forward more far-reaching territorial claims. Her Majesty’s Government confidently expect that the reasonableness of their demands will be recognized, they trust that the people of the Netherlands will thus be enabled to rebuild their position in world economy.

  1. This undated memorandum was transmitted to the Department under cover of Note No. 7779, November 5, 1946, from the Netherlands Ambassador, which read as follows:

    “Under instructions received from my Government I have the honour to transmit herewith a memorandum containing the desiderata of the Netherlands Government with regard to the demarcation of the future Netherlands-German frontier and related problems.”

    Another copy of this memorandum was transmitted directly to the Secretary of State in New York by the Netherlands Representative to the United Nations, Eelco van Kleffens, under cover of the following note, dated November 5, 1946:

    “The Netherlands diplomatic representatives in Washington, London, Moscow and Paris will present today to the American, British, French and Soviet Governments a memorandum, with annexes, containing the desiderata of the Netherlands Government regarding the demarcation of the future Netherlands-German frontier and related problems.” (CFM Files, Lot M–88, Netherlands)

    Telegram 886, November 2, 1946, from The Hague, not printed, which reported on the imminent delivery of this memorandum, stated that the Netherlands Foreign Office appeared to consider the economic desiderata as far more important than the proposed frontier rectifications (865.50/11–246).

  2. Annex A. [Footnote in the source text; Annex A not printed.]
  3. Not printed.
  4. The concessions under reference are listed in List A of Annex I as follows:

    A. Mines in production.

    1.
    Walsum (right bank of the Rhine), inclusive concession Neu Eversael (left bank of the Rhine).
    2.
    Diergardt-Mevissen (left and right bank of the Rhine).
    3.
    Rhein-Preussen (inclusive Rheinland).
    4.
    Friedrich Heinrich (inclusive Humbold 1 and 2, Norddeutschland and Camp V).
    5.
    Niederrheinische Bergswerks A. G. (inclusive Grossherzog von Baden, Ernst Moritz Arndt, Süddeutschland, Heinrich and Vluyn II).
    6.
    Sophia Jacoba (inclusive Erkelenz).

    B. Concessions (undeveloped) not mentioned in A.

    7.
    Rossenray.
    8.
    Rheinberg.
    9.
    Alfred.
    10.
    Niederrhein (inclusive Bönninghardt and Veen).
    11.
    Walther.
    12.
    “Deutscher Fiscus” (north of Kevelaar).
    13.
    Coallayers of Rombacher Hütte near Erkelenz.
  5. The concessions under reference here were listed in List B of Annex I as follows:

    German Potassium—Concessions near Wesel and Xanten.

    1.
    Gewerkschaft Rheinberg.
    2.
    Rossenray and Neu-Eversael.
    3.
    Zeche Friedrich Heinrich.
    4.
    Geweikschaft Friedrich Thyssen.
  6. The maps which accompanied this memorandum are not reproduced.
  7. Annex II not printed. It proposed the incorporation in the Netherlands of the area of the Dollard, the sea-dike from Emden to Pilsum via Knock (exclusive of the town of Emden and surroundings), the island of Borkum, and the peat moor of Boertange. The curve in the Netherlands-German boundary near Bentheim would be straightened, but the town of Nordhorn would remain in Germany. Proposed rectifications near Glanerbrug would bring largely Dutch-owned cotton mills into the Netherlands. The boundary would be considerably shortened by rectifications near Vreden, and deficiencies in the water transportation system would be corrected by rectifications in the neighborhood of Dinxperlo and east of Nijmegen. Finally, the “excessively sinuous line” in the province of Limbourg, from Tegelen to Vaals, would be considerably shortened by the rectification proposed by the Netherlands Government.