-3- #176, February 7, 3 p.m., from London.
 
      
 
 
communicated the above views secretly to the Belgian Government, 
      The French reply is now being considered by His Majesty's Government.
 
      
 
 
Four. The Belgian reply expresses gratitude for His Majesty's 
      Government's message, and asks for any similar information in 
      future, but the only view expressed is that the Belgian Government 
      resolutely maintain their policy of independence, which they 
      claim to be unanimously approved in Belgium, and to be best suited 
      to the situation of Belgium, and to the interest of Europe. When 
      communicating this reply, the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs 
      said that he could not believe that Germany contemplated the 
      seizure of Holland, but in any event the Belgian Government were 
      convinced that their only chance to maintain independence and 
      avoid invasion was to have no commitments at all with any country.
 
      
 
 
Five. On receipt of a telegram from the Netherlands Minister 
      in Washington reporting his conversation with President Roosevelt 
      on the 26th January, the Netherlands Minister asked His Majesty's 
      Minister at The Hague whether His Majesty's Government could 
      confirm the President's information. His Majesty's Minister, 
      on instructions from His Majesty's Government, informed Dr. Patijn 
      on January