Letter from Joseph P. Walshe to Robert C. Ferguson (Dublin)
(Copy)

Dear Ferguson,
I enclose a report of an interview between officials of the Dutch Ministry of Trade and McCann, of the High Commissioner 's Office.¹ You will see that the Dutch pitch their demands fairly high, but it seems imperative to come to a decision immediately on the items and quantities which we can make available for export within the next few weeks. What the Government wants us to do is to send relief somewhere immediately, and Holland seems to provide the opportunity.

The Italians have made a more modest request, but they have asked us to send the consignment to Liverpool where they could pick it up in their own ships. The following are the items and quantities:

It is the intention of the Italian Government that this first consignment should be sent to the hospitals in Italy.

You will remember that the Belgian Government have arranged to send a cattle boat for a cargo of milch cows, and that the French are sending a commission to purchase 300 mixed light and heavy draught horses. They are prepared to send a ship for this consignment in July.

We have no details from the French or Belgian Governments as to their requirements from our general list, though we have urged upon them the need for making a specific request at the earliest possible date.