Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-24
ANGER OF HOLLAND
AROUSED BY LOSSES

The tremendous destruction of Dutch
| shipping during the last two days Is
regarded here as the most acute phase
Of the international situation.
| 1t Is regarded even as bringing
nearer the probability of a break in
diplomatic relations between the
Netherlands and Germany. SO far. Hol-
land has only made protests against
destruction OF her neutral ships by
German submarines. but the startling
operations reported yesterday and to-
day are expected to arouse wave of
popular indignation in the Netherlands
which that government may find diff
hcult to withstand. even should 1t de-
sire to do SO.
| The situation for Holland in relation
! to Germany as it is observed from
| Washington is growing more and moro
| difficult. NOfficials and diplomats here
will be surprised if the government
does not take some action.
! Chevalier van Rappard. the Neither
| lands minister, today received the news
| or the sinking of seven more Dutch
| ships in the submarine war zone, ac-
| cording to news dispatches. with the
| characterization that the situation Is
horrible one. which must soon come
| to an end
| Holland must have grain from the
United states. II her people are to be
fed, the minister said. during a CONVEX
satfon with a representative of The
! star Holland is no longer able to OBJ
tain wheat for bread from Rumania
| ana Russia, from which countries she
| received grain before the conquest Of
Rumania by the Germans.
The minister believes that some Of
the difficulties of the submarine war
concered. could be obviated il the Brit
| 1sh ship examiners. representing the
allies. could arrange to examine ships
| on large and broader scale at Halifax,
SO that ships in larger numbers could
| proceed to Europe by way of the north
| ern course, outside of the submarine
danger zone marked out by Germany
| as prescribed.
Would Aid Transportation.
"A few of our ships. of the Holland
| American Line the minister said.
| have permission to be examined at
Halifax. and are now there. These are
freight vessels. however, and 1 have not
yet heard that any passenger ships
| such as and In addition to the Fred
ERIK VIII, are to be examined there
| II such examinations could be made for
freight as well as passenger ships at
Hal1ia1. the Holland-American line
could resume operations again, to the
mutual advantage of Holland and the
United States. Holland is well up on
the list of countries who take large
volume Of exports from the United
States. and the loss Of this trade to the
United States will mean serious loss
to United States shippers
Then. again. there is the mail situa-
ton. 1t is fully six weeks now since
we have had any legation mail from
Holland. and it is practically two
months since business firms in the
United States have received mail from
Holland. In other words. all mail re-
lations between the United States and
Holland have disappeared.
Minister van Rappard does not know.
he says. what the Netherlands foreign
office proposes to do In regard to the
sinking Of the Dutch ships. 1.-THE situa-
ton. however" he said, cannot con-
tinue." He said he does not plan to
discuss the situation with State De-
partment officials here in the absence
of instructions from his government.
Holland is well supplied with meats.
butter. etc. These articles she exports
But unless grain can be obtained for
the Dutch people from the United
States. the minister said. they will
starve.