033.5511 Van Zeeland, Paul/1

Memorandum by the Naval Attaché in Belgium (Gade)1

The Naval Attaché and his wife lunched alone with the Prime Minister and his wife. After luncheon Mr. Van Zeeland stated:

“I wish to talk to you in strictest confidence and on a matter I have not mentioned, as yet, to your Ambassador, as my mind is not entirely made up.

“I have taken it up in a preliminary manner with His Majesty. I have long felt with my sympathies for America, the two countries should be brought closer together and that one of the most valuable assets of Belgium today is the feeling of genuine affection which your great country has for mine. I do not believe it is merely a sentimental legacy of the War and what you did for us then, but it is something more than that. I should like not only to retain it, but to develop it; and for that purpose I have thought of the following:

“Princeton University has kindly informed me of its intention to confer an honorary degree upon me at its commencement next June. I should like to go to America and to make my visit an official one, during which I am planning an intimate talk with President Roosevelt. During my visit I should like to be present at the opening of an exhibition of the finest specimens procurable of old Flemish tapestries and paintings of our great Flemish masters, similar to Vander Weyden, Van Eyck, etc. These I should have collected and the opening of the exhibition would be either in New York or Washington while I am there.

“I have long felt that nothing would attract American eyes more sympathetically towards Belgium than the fact that we might possibly prove the first country to negotiate a debt settlement with the United States. I have very much at heart to bring about and to discuss the feasibility of it with President Roosevelt. I naturally do not know what chances the President might have of putting through Congress a settlement which would be within the financial possibilities of my little country under the present circumstances.

“When I go over, I should like to inform your Ambassador that I should appreciate your personally being attached to me and request [Page 672] the same of your Government. My going would naturally entirely depend upon European conditions at the time in question. I should be accompanied by several Belgian gentlemen who would each one be fitted to take up particular phases of the problems in my mind for America.”

John A. Gade
  1. Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in Belgium in his unnumbered despatch, February 3; received February 15.