Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-16
WILL BECOME DEPENDENT UPON
eERMAssNlF AMERICA CUTS
OFF WHEAT SUPPLY.
MISSION COMING HERE
TO PRESENT PROTEST
Intimation Made That Action UIti-
msteIy Would Force Holland to En-
ter War-May Agree to Charter Part
Of Merchant Fleet For Transporta-
ton Of Food to People.

Amsterdam Aug. 16-"If we fail to
persuade the American government to
permit a continuance of the supply OF
grain it will mean misery and economic
ruin for Holland" unanimously declar-
ed the members of the official Dutch
mission, who are expected to sail for
the United States this week, and who
were interviewed yesterday in body by
the Associated Press.
Whether such an eventuality ultim-
ately would force Holland into the1xar,
the members of the mission did not
care to prophecy. This, they contended
depended on the capacity of the Dutch
people to bear priva lions ard on unfor-
seeable circums .ances.
Such ac,i0l wu; d make Holland
position moss serious AID would make
her more than cvc- GER, ndent on the
central powers, to Wiz m she pr..sum-
ABLY would be obliged to turn TO try
to get grain rs wsi: rs the present Is
Sential coa', necessarily n exchange FOR
equivalent concession and in which
case the American aim of stopping
Dutch food exports toward Germany
would be defeated.
Banker is Spokesman.
The principal spokesman of the mis-
sion was Joost Van Vollenhoven, form
er'n,anaging director and still direc-
tor of the Netherlands Overseas Trust
and managing director of the Neither
lends Bank. He limited at the conclu-
sions Holland reluctantly would have to
draw regarding the overseas trade for
the future, she having hitherto always
reckoned thar she could lean on that
trade no matter what happened to her
eastern supplies.
The members Of the mission, how
ever. in no wise anticipated such a
failure of their efforts. On the contrary,
they were hopeful of success and said
they would leave no stone unturned to
achieve it.
Herr Van Vollenhoven said h.
thought America, where the rights Of
small states had been so championed.
would not do anything e. deprive 3
small state of the possibility OF main
tanning free existence.
Might Charter Merchant Fleet.
Questioned regarding what Holland
was prepared to concede for the priv
ilege Of obtaining provisions from the
United States, the members of the mis-
sion spoke guardedly, but their re-
marks justify the deduction that the
Netherlands would be agreeable to
chartering part of her mercantile fleet.
The one anxiety on this head was that
Holland might be asked to do some
thing which would embroil her with
Germany, hence the wish was express
ed that any such ships should be en-
ployed outside European waters.
Incidentally Herr Van Vollenhoven
expressed the opinion that In view of
the Roumanian and other supplies the
sever1ng Of the central powers food
imports from the western neutrals
would not disable the Teuton coun-
tries.
Asked why the Netherlands could not
make herself independent Of Germany
respecting coal by getting supplies from
England, the members Of the mission
declared that apart from British condi-
tons. the shipment of 100000 tons
monthly. which is the amount of the
reduced ration recently allowed by Ger
many, it was quite impracticable.