Budget asked for purchasing guns for Dutch merchant marine for according to the Dutch newspaper De Gooi- en Eemlander dated 22 September 1937

An item referred to the new Dutch defence budget for 1938 presented by the minister of defence J.J.C. van Dijk to the parliament. The budget was increased compared with the one for 1937 with 25,5 million Dutch guilders. A post of ƒ 2.000.000 was dealing with the purchase of guns to arm the Dutch merchant ships for the necessary defensive purpose similar to what was done abroad. This reserve of guns could be used for fitting out the modern merchant ships or to strengthen the Dutch coastal defence.