The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-16
HOLLAND PROTESTS
AGAINST WAR ZONE
Sends Communication to Ger
many Expressing Objections
to Shipping Blockade.
FLAG NOTE TO BRITAIN

Spcci1i Cnbio Dcspdfch 10 TBr srN
AMSTERDAM. Feb. l5.-Holland has
sent a note to Germany denying the
charges against neutral countries 50 far
as the Netherlands IL concerned and
expressing objections to the German
blockade.
Tho declaration is similar to that
made TO Great Britain some time agn
when that nation closed part Of the
North Sea. 1t maintains that neutral
ships are entitled to- an adequate eN-
animation to determine their nationality
before the taking OF extreme measures.
The Dutch Government has also scnt
a note to Great Britain expressing It's
views in regard To- the use of a heutra.
nag. These representations are stated
to be tantamount TO an objection.
The fun text Of the protests 10 GER
many and Great Britain is not avail
able. but tho following are the salient
points of the cortents OF that commune
Gated TO the German Foreign once
First-The Government of the Meth
.rlauds denies the imputatto' that II
has been partial TO Great Britain IN
the conduct Of commercial affairs. IN
embargo acts or otherwise The Meth
,rlands pursued a strictly neutral at'I-
tudc and course.
Sccond-As the y ther,prds Govern
msrt protested against the british dee
B l~aration o. the Nurth Sea a. a war zone,
so II NOW protests against tde Ger
man declaration Of an :. 'rmous stretch
If water surrounding th. British Isles
as a theatre Of war which peaceful
eutral vessels may not safely enter or
cross.
Third-Thc Netherlands Government
declares tia the possible hosting or
-. H., hA sV .tH.FtRs ftaAFRhu 81 -
man would not excuse German wtrships
IN sinking merchantmen ou suspicion.
without arrest or scaich. Sucn an act
would he IN direct contrtVcntion ~ in
ternattonal law.
In case "A Dutch ship were thus at
to 'ked and sunk tn" Netherlands
would hold Germany responsible"
|. It's note to Great britain the
Netherlands Guvcrumeut says that while
the use OF n neutral nag 10y a Nor
chant ship Of a bclligereut iu order TO
escape imminent danger Of capture or
destruction 10y an enemy war vessel
has been tolerated In individual cases
as an eNcusablc rus. If i were pra'-
tIsed on u large scale and hN the dire 2
sanction OF "A belllgcrent Government
il would certainly bo an abuse of a
neutral nae
The fact that the merchant shipping
act Of Great Britain contains practical
permission for merc'Nnt ships Of "thcr
nations 90 make such use Of the British
flag In case Of imminent danger for
the purpose ~ escape." says the note.
does rot justify the use OF tags o.
otuer nations which have no such Law
and have given no such permission
The Netherlands calls attention &
the grave danger which would he inn
posed upon all its shipping oN genera
Instructions IA British merchantmen
to make use Of the Dutch iia-.
The HdHdcISbldd says the Roval
Dutch steamship Company has sus-
pended services ~ Havre until further
notice. II is stated that Germany ht-
advised Holland to iu!uce her shir
owners 10 have their names and nags
painted as hiEh as possihi, above The
water line as the periscopes OF the sub
marines will he kept ~ near the sur.
face as possible in rough weather and
consequently the lower part " the hullS
Will lee barely visible
1t * understood that the Rotterdam
Chamber % Commerce has received 2
formal notification from the German
Consul. or tn" lines Of tho German Nd
miralty's announcement. adding that I'm.
less neutral ships enter the German wt'
area only under "nuvpy and ~ the idy
time they are liable 20 destruction