740.00/1096: Telegram
The Minister in the Netherlands (Gordon) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 23—1:50 p.m.]
47. My 45, April 21, 1 p.m.32 The Foreign Minister has just given me the text of a statement formulated in consultation with the Queen, the Prime Minister and other high officials. After requesting me to convey to the President the thanks of the Netherlands Government for communicating to it the text of the message of April 15 the statement reads as follows:
“The President’s readiness to help in promoting where necessary better and especially more neighborly international relations has found deep appreciation in the Netherlands. In case this initiative would prove the right way of opening prospects for a real betterment of the world situation, it will have the wholehearted support of the Netherlands Nation and Government.”
In the discussions of the matter it was strongly urged that in view of this country’s delicate situation vis-à-vis Germany it would be preferable to issue no statement at all; however, the opposing view which prevailed was that the Netherlands should at least have the courage to issue a statement of this nature! I trust the Department will agree that under the circumstances this constitutes as good a response to our suggestion as could have been hoped for.
- Not printed.↩