MINISTRY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
No. 128657
The Hague, 19 October, 1953.
Sir,
In receipt of Your Excellency's note of today's date we have the honour to inform
you of the following:
On a basis of reciprocity the Netherlands Government are prepared to accord the customs
privileges at present enjoyed by the diplomatic staff of the British Embassy at The
Hague to any Consuls-General, Consuls and Vice-Consuls (not being honorary consular
officers) of the United Kingdom in the Netherlands, to clerks employed in the British
Embassy at The Hague, and to clerks employed on the staffs of the consular officers
in question, provided, however, that only those persons shall be entitled to benefit
who are not Netherlands subjects, who are not engaged in private occupation for gain
in the Netherlands and who are permanent employees of their Government, or, if not
permanent employees thereof, were not ordinarily resident in the Netherlands at the
time of their appointment to such diplomatic or consular post, and provided also that
their appointments shall have been duly notified to the Netherlands Government through
the diplomatic channel with a view to the necessary steps being taken to ensure for
them the special treatment which this arrangement contemplates.
We agree to the suggestion that Your Excellency's note and this reply shall be regarded
as placing on record the understanding reached between the two Governments concerning
the matter, and that the arrangement shall come into force on the date on which the
Netherlands Government shall notify Her Britannic Majesty's Government that the required
constitutional approval has been obtained.
Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of our highest consideration.
(sd.) J. LUNS.
(sd.) J. W. BEYEN.
His Excellency
Sir Nevile M. Butler,
Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Her Majesty the Queen
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
