Evening star., 1915-02-16
Holland Presents Protests
to Both Berlin and London

THE HAGUE, via London, February
1.-THE Netherlands has maintained
the strictest neutrality by presentiI 9
notes of protest at the same moment
to Germany and Great Britain regarL-.
Ing the acts IF these governments in
respectively declaring a war zone of
the waters around the British Isles and
in using neutral flags
Diplomats here have been awaiting
action of this kind. and their expecta-
tions were fulfilled this evening y hen
II was announced that the Dutch min
lister at Berlin had been instructed to
hand the note to the German foreign
office. the other note being communi-
catet to Great Britain at the Sane
time.
There has been much discussion of
the dangers to be encountered in the
North sea, and 1tch shipping is men
aeed more than that of any other neu-
trail nation, owing to the large number
of Dutch vessels passing through the
English channel on the voyage to the
Dutch Indies. Dutch shippers appear
determined not to change their sched-
ules and the ships will proceed over
the usual routes. although with pre-
cautions in order to make their ma
tionality clear.
Salient Points Of Protests.
The full text of the Dutch protest.
to Germany and great Britain Is not
available. but the following are the
salient points of the contents of the
note communicated to the German for
etgn office:
Ffrst-The government OF the Meth
erlands denies the imputation that IL
has been partial to Great Britain in
the conduct of commercial affairs, in
embargo acts or otherwise. The Meth
crlands has pursued a strictly neutral
attitude and course
Second-As to the Netherlands sov-
ernment protested against the British
declaration of the North sea as a war
zone. so IL now protests against the
German declaration of an enormous
stretch Of water surrounding the Brit
fsh Isles as a theater of war which
peaceful neutral vessels may not safely
enter or cross.
Flag Abuse No Excuse.
Third-The Netheriand. government
declares that the possible posting of a
neutral hag by an enemy merchant
man would not excuse German war
ships in sinking merchantmen on sus-
picion, without arrest or search Such
an act would be in direct contravention
of international law
In case a Dutch ship were thus at
tackled and sunk the Netherlands would
hold Germany responsible.
: In it's note to Great Britain The
Estheriands government Says that
merchant ship OF a belligerent In order
10 escape imminent danger OF capture or
destruction by an enemy war vessel
has been tolerated in individual cases
as an excusabie ruse. IL II were prac-
ticed on a large scale and by the direct
sanction of a befligerent government
II would certainly be an abuse of a
neutral flag
Holds British Law Vain.
The fact that the merchant shipping
act of Great Britain contains practical
permission for merchant ships of other
nations TO make such use of the nag
in case of imminent danger for the
purpose of escape" says the note
does not justify the use of flags OF
other nations which have no such Law
and have given no ship permission
1.-THE Netherlands calls attention tc
the grave danger which would be I'm
.Desed upon all its shipping by general
Instructions to British merchantmen tc
make use Of the Dutch nAg."