The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-02
OTHER NEUTRALS.
AWAIT ACTION OF
us. GOVERNMENT
Holland, 6pain and Denmark
Feel Much Depends on
Americas Decision.

( 4 II 4 70 III. - r
The Hague. Feb. Pit would be
difficult to exaggerate the gravity
with which public opinion in Hol-
land, particularly as reflected in the
Dutch newspa pers, has received the
news Of Germany's resumption OF
ruthless submarine warfare.
It is declared in many quarters
and by number Of newspapers that
Hollands future course Of action
must be conditioned largely by the
course adopted by other neutrals, and
most of all by the decision reached
by the United States. Dispatches re-
ceived here indicate that similar
feeling exists in other small European
neutral nations, and that there is
general anxiety as to what the United
States will do
Situation Secretly Discussed.
A secret meeting was held at the
Ministry Of Marine here this after
noon, at which the Foreign Minister,
the heads Of the Ministry of Marine
and representatives OF the Holland
America and other big Dutch ship
ping companies discussed the situa-
ton and the steps which might be
taken.
Much significance is attached to an
editorial published this morning in
the Amsterdam Handelsblad, a paper
which generally is considered very
close to the Dutch Foreign Office.
Much depends, the Handelsblad de-
clares. upon the attitude Of the United
States, and it continues that If the
United States abides by the conten<
ton of the notes which it's govern
ment has repeatedly addressed to
Germany, America will be obliged to
declare war on Germany.
This paper continues that Holland
must now keep in close touch with
the! other neutral nations, who are
alike threatened by the new peril, but
it fatty declares that in any case the
Netherlands government has been
provided with sufficient grounds for
a declaration of war against Germany.
Although Dutch ships, it points out,
must cross both blockade areas, the
British and German alike, the British
blockade has at least the flavor Of
legality and effectiveness, while the
+ German blockade has no semblance OF
either.
An official announcement was made
yesterday by the, Foreign Office that
the German minister had notified the
Dutch government of his govern
ment's readiness to make special ar
rangements for safeguarding passen-
ger and mail traffic between Holland
and England, and offered pledge
that no mines will be laid on the
Flushing Southwark route.
This concession, however, has not
prevented the naval authorities from
tying up all Dutch shipping. including
fishing vessels, within Dutch terrific
rial waters for the present, as a meas
ure of precaution It is felt that this
situation cannot long continue.
"Germany's new blockade measures
constitute for Holland perhaps the
most serious event since the outbreak
of the war; says the Amsterdam
Nieuwes van den Daag. IF these
measures could be applied fully they
would expose all goods in transit at
sea to such risks that our industry
would be paralyzed entirely and the
edeirT of our ueople would be men,
ISL cry seriously. Even if Germany
49, OF succeed entirely in carving
out her threat, the dangers at sea will.
be increased j ~rse1y."
The Amsterdam Telegram (the most
conspicuous partisan of the Allies in
Holland) declares that ''the time has
come now or never will come when
the Dutch government must decide on
which side it's interests will be safest,
and the reply is not doubtful We
have everything to expect from the
Eentnte Allies. They may put diff :
culties in our way, but they have not
torpedoed our ships and do not threat
en- to murder our sailors and passen-
gers
Object to German Editorials.
Public opinion here and elsewhere
in Holland has also been stirred by
the tone of editorials in the Germa 4
press, notably by the declaration OF
the Cologne Gazette that Eve are
calmly prepared for action, and all
objections to +hia ~~nv~ruent have been