New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-16
Netherlands Mission Has
Not Given Up Hope of
Settlement, However
Trade Yet Unaffected
Holland Representatives Free
Nv Declare Seizure Would
Be Unfriendly Act
fsiar Co.r~pondenool

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.-1he ques-
ton Of communicating Dutch and
Scandinavian ships now in American
ports IS being handled directly by the
President, and decision is expected
IN the next two or three days. The
belief is prevalent in many quarters
that the President will issue an execu-
tive order cOmmandeerlng the shlps'
and this course is being urged upon
him by the Shipping Board and war
and Navy departments.
Secretary Lansing, it Is understood
has also withdrawn his objections
which were sufficient to prevent the
Communicating OF the Dutch and
scandinavian ships when the subject
was in the hands OF the President be-
fore.
Hone has not yet been given up by
the Dutch mission, however. hollahd
has made 4 proposition 10 the Fiesi-
dent that America shall charter one
half the Dutch tonnage In American
rorts. TO be used in the coastwIse trade
and trade between the United states
and the Dutch colonies. There would
be a provision in the charters that the
two lines of commerce. =,
In return for this concession Holland
would ask that the remainder OF the
ships be released for trade between
America and Holland and that TINS gov,
eminent would agree TO supply hol!and
with a stipulated amount OF ioodstuns;
The ships running 10 Holland WoulG
carry food supplies for Holland ana
supplies for the Belgian Refer Com-
mission.
Dutch representatives here believe
that.this plan will prevail; Iney say
that the Communicating OF Dutch snlps
by this country would be construed oy
the Netherlands government "a as
tinctly unfriendly act Asked II nor
land would break of diplomatic rela.
tions with this government as result
~ the Communicating OF the Dutcn
sbips the reply was that 1t was pos
e;bie such a step would follow, though
Uoliand was very anxious TO keep on
Good terms with the United states.
Members of the Dutch commission
stated today that Holland is oh gated,
under the Rhine navigation conven.
ZION 70 permit the use ny Germany OF
.bo Netherlands waterways connected
With tho Rhine. For this reason, IL was
declared. Holland could not prevent the
non-war use Of these waterways by
Germany without violating treaty.
Earlier in the war. II was stated, the
Dutch government prohibited the use OF
the waterways by Germany for the
TRANSPORTATION Of loot from Belgium 70
Germany. Holland. it was declared. IS
unaware of any military use Germany
has made OF her waterways. Holland
bad sent her own military officers to
Belgium TO discover the uses 20 which
the concrete making materials were put
by Germany, and in every instance
found them TO be non-military.
Communication between the United
States and Holland has not been al
fected by Great BIitain's action IN pro
claiming ban upon commercial cables
TO the Netherlands because the latter
government refused 70 stop shipments
of concrete material 10 the Germans in
Belgium It was officially stated to-day
that the State Department had been in
formed of no interference whatever
with messages from this country.
1t is understood that the differences
between the Netherlands and England
have been the subject Of much con-
sideration by all of the Allied govern
ments. Chevalier van Rappard, the
Dutch Minister, called to-day on Secre-
tary Lansing but nothing was made
public concerning heir conference.