740.0011 European War 1939/2726: Telegram
The Ambassador in Belgium (Cudahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 8—2:20 p.m.]
99. The Foreign Minister52 advises me he has been informed by Belgian Ambassador in Berlin that German Foreign Office has prepared a memorandum reciting grievances against Belgium and the Netherlands which concludes by the imposition of unreasonable and [Page 188] unacceptable demands in the nature of an ultimatum. The Ambassador advised that von Kuhlman (German Foreign Minister in 1917) and Kiewitz would leave Berlin this morning and go to The Hague as personal envoys of Hitler to discuss current “political problems” existing between the two countries.
Foreign Minister said that late this afternoon he had been informed by Dutch Minister in Brussels that Von Kuhlman and Kiewitz arrived at The Hague and would confer with Dutch authorities this evening.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs tells me he has no other evidence than that herein indicated but it is his belief that an ultimatum will be presented to Holland demanding unopposed entry of German troops to that country. He believes that similar demands will be made upon Belgium but stresses that he has no evidence other than that herein stated upon which to base this belief. He assures me again that an invasion of Holland opposed by the Dutch will mean military intervention by Belgium.
Copy to The Hague.
- Paul-Henri Spaak.↩