Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-16
DUTCH PROTEST SIMILAR
TO THAT OF UNITED States
The Netherlands Presents Notes IA,
Same Moment to Germany
and Great Britain.
SHIPPING is GREATLY MENACEB
imp"tation of Partially to England
is Denied - kniSer'S Government
warned II Will BE Held RESPONSE.
Die for Loss of Any Vessels Sunk

TIE HAGUE cvia London). ccbru.
AIRY TO- 1890 i. M.-Thc Netherlands
mas presented notes of protest "a, IN,
same moment TO Germany and t;r.,,
britain regarding the acts of has,
governments in respectively DECLARING
4 war zone OF the waters AROUND tho
british Isles. and in using neutral
flags. "'
'iplohla's here have been awaitinp
action of this kind, and their .xncr,.,
,'o"S were fulhlicd Tonight when II
was announced that III. Dutch ,niniy,a,
'' "''hh had been instructed to hand
nc mote 10 The German Foreign Dilic.
't o'her note being communicated To
treat Britain At the same time
ih'fc has been much discussion of
'""S'fS I" he encountered in the Nortr
set ana the Dutch shipping is mcn,ccJ
more than that OF any ono, n..,,,, ".
n',Ioh. owing 10 the large number nf
p"'Ch vessels passing through IN,
r'"Gi!sh enamel on the voyage, IN M.
luton indies Dutch shippers are de-
'r'hi'hed not to change their schcd
ui"S. ana the ships Will proceed ovc,
the usual routes. takint, pr.c,u,inn,
L" make thci. nationality clear
Full TENT or DUTCH
PROTESTS NOT AVAILABLE
The full text Of the Dutch prntcs,s
al" not available, bat the iollowint. ar.
the salient points OF tn. contents of
the note communicated 10 tho German
Foreign Office:
tirst. The government OF the Meth
sriands denies the imputation that i,
mas been partial To Grca, Britain In
commercial affairs. in embargo acts
or otherwise. The Netherlands has
pursued strictly neutral attitude
Second. As the Netherlands govern
mcnt protested aEains, the British
declarations OF the North Sea as q war
zone so !; now protests against the
German declaration of AN enorrnom.
stretch of water surrounding the i,ri,
ish Isles az q centre OF war. which
peaceful neutral vessels may not safe
l. enter or Cross
Third. The Netherlands government,
declares that tho possible posting of
neutral flag by an enemy merchant
man would not excuse German war
ships IN sinking merchantmen. on s,ls-
piclon. without arrest or search Such
an act would he in direct contraycn-
ton OF international law
In case Dutch ship were thus at.
tackled and suni the %etherlnnds
would hold Germany rcsponshlc
In it's not" TO Great Britain tn.
Ncth"rlands government says that
while The use Of "A neutral flag lbs ,
hcII!Gcrcn, merchantmen to escape an
enemy war vessel has been tolerated
in individual! cases. If IL were practiced
on large scale ana by the direct
sanction Of y bclliEcrcut government. II
would certainly be an abuse OF a ncu-
trail flag
The fact tina, Tho merchant shining
net Of Great Britain is practical per
mission for merchant ships or OTHER
nations /" make such use of the nag i'm
case of imminent danger tor the rur.
pose OF escape" saws tn" note does
not Justify the use of tags of other
nations which hay" no such Law and
nave given no ghip permission
'rhc Netherlands calls attention TO
the grave danger which would u. i'm
noscd upon all it's Shppn- by general
instructions 70 British merchants TO
make use OF the Dutch flag"