File No. 656.119/568
The Netherland Chargé ( De Beaufort) to the Secretary of State
Sir: I have not failed to acquaint my Government with the contents of your note of May 9, in which you give to the Netherland Government certain assurances against the requisitioning of ships flying the Netherland flag.
From a comparison of this note with your note of the 26th April it appears that the United States Government have given unconditional [Page 1505] guarantee against requisitioning only in regard to Netherland vessels leaving Netherland or Netherland colonial ports after the 20th March, whereas in regard to the balance of the free Netherland vessels their guarantee is subject to the reserve that requisitioning might take place in the case of a grave military necessity.
I may observe that the British Government have given the formal assurance that they will henceforth refrain from requisitioning a single Netherland ship and I wish to point out that indeed [neither] the Netherland Government nor the people of Holland would acquiesce in a renewed requisitioning of vessels flying the Netherland flag.
With a view to the above I have the honor to bring to the courteous attention of the United States Government that a requisitioning of Netherland ships not included in the unconditional guarantee, would seriously affect the friendly relations between the two countries.
Please accept [etc.]