DEPARTMENT OF STATE
                                             WASHINGTON
 
                                             April 15, 1940
 
My dear Mr. President:
 
In reply to your memorandum of April 15 concerning
 
Gordon's telegram no. ll2 in which he suggested a further
 
message from you to Queen Wilhelmina, I enclose copy of
 
a message which the Secretary sent yesterday morning in
 
reply. With your statement on Saturday regarding the
 
American attitude toward small nations, there can be no
 
possible doubt of our moral position. The Netherlands
 
Government has never before been hesitant in suggesting 
 
ways and means whereby we could be helpful. In the circum-
 
stances, the wisest course seemed to be to give Gordon
 
authorization to ask for an audience, if the Dutch authorities 
 
intimated that this would be helpful, but not to take a further 
 
initiative ourselves at the moment.
 
                         Faithfully yours,
 
 
 
 
 
Enclosure:
Telegram no. 112,
from The Hague, April 13, 1940.
 
 
The President,
The White House.