The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-24

HOLLAND WANTS JOINT PROTEST
 ON TRADE BANS
Suggests Co., Operation Te Force Britain To End
 Blockade.

Washington, July 22-The govern l ment of Holland has approached the United States government with sug- gestioR for cooperative action against
 the mutually objectionable features of the British blockade.
 The action. to be backed by re- prisals against British trade if@neces- sary, is now understood to have been the subject of the conference yester- day between acting Secretary of State Polk and Chevalier van Rappard, the Dutch Minister. The possibility of the United States as the leading neu- tral nation encouraging the proposal Is a matter that will be decided upon later.
 The matter was discussed fully at the Cabinet meeting yesterday. MT. Polk informed the President of the Dutch Ministers informal suggestion and at the same time outlined the steps that have been taken by the State Department on behalf of several of the American firms blacklisted un- der the trading with the enemy act" ,. ,[..ir
 President Wilson had in view the sending of another vigorous, note to Great Britain in connection, with the blacklist case.l but the government or Holland, 1t is understood, considers the blockade question from broader viewpoint and purposes to seek a conn prehensive remedy instead Of contln- uing the futile process of protesting item by item as each objectionable case presents itself.
 Leans to Dutch View.
 There were indications last night that this government is leaning to- ward the Dutch view Steps already have been taken toward bringing Great Brftain's attention .pointedly to two features of the restrictions which the British government has placed on neutral trade-the seizure of matls and the bIacklisting of neutral firms.
 After the conference with Chevaler van Rappard yesterday MT. Polk sent a cable to Ambassador Page at Lon- don and also to Ambassador Sharp at Paris directing them to ascertain when the reply to the last American note on the mail seizure case would be forthcoming.
 The Ameriran note requested "a prompt repl-'
 Holland interest in the detention of mails is as pressing as the interest of the United States. The detention of mails fror- New York to Rotterdam has been a feature of the British ef- forts to cut off con1nunioations be- tween Germany and the United States until the mail and parcel post had been searched for contraband or in- formation which might prove of value to the Entente E
 American firms dealing with Ger many nearly always have agents in Holland or some oftthe Scandinavian countries. These agents ip many cases are under the eye of the British authorities, and in seeking out 'go- Ibetweens' who foster American-Ger- man trade the British authorities have, it is explained, made many i'm nocent Dutch drms suffer through the paere suspicion that they are serving. German interests.
 Holland feels, as do the Scandina- vian countries, that sincere efforts have been made to allay the British suspicion.
 ' Neutral Ships Held Up.
 The most embarrassing action of the British authorities so far as Dutch trade is concerned is the policy which Great Britain has, been following of holding up, at Kirkwall ships bound from New York to Rotterdam when- ever there was anything in the cargo actually or presumably destined for Germany. The detention of the ves-, sel meant at least the loss of a day on the voyage.
 To obviate this the steamship com panies finally came to the conclusion that \ it was better to refuse any freight open to suspicion of German kdestination. They thereby obviated the days delay at Kirkwa1l, but both American and Dutch commerce has suffered as consequence.
 Matters have reached a stage now 1t is explained, where the ship com- panies refuse many bona fde ship ments simply for the reason that the British authorities might consider them suspicious. This amounts to the British authorities dictating just what firms in the United States and Holland may do business with each other, and just how shipments must be made. In other words, the Dutch goHernment sees it's trade with another neutral regulated, even in the matter of detail. by the British gov- ernment.
 There is now said to be an im- pression among the Scandinavian countries that the time is. ripe for the United States. as the leading neutral nation, to cooperate with them in remedial action.
 The suggestion of reprisals as a last resort remedy admittedly runs counter to the spirit of the Bryan treaty with Great Britain, which has been interpreted here as permitting no such action. It is felt by many. however that this treaty should no, | remain a permanent bar to the nro- lection of legitimate American inter ests.