The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-03-21
Exercise of Our Indisput-
able Rights He Says, Re.
counting Negotiations.
HOLLAND IS COERCED
"Under Menace of Power
Which Demonstrated Dis
dain of Neutral Rights"
LACKING IN FREE WILL
America Takes SO Vessels Of
100000 Tons and Great
Britain 100000 Tons.
HOLLAND IS COERCED
LACKING IN FREE WILL
Special Dcsp1tch 10 The SUH.

Special Dcspatch 10 The SuN.
WASHINGTON, March 20.---Ba sing his
action on "the law and practice Of ma
tions. and also on the authority con-
ferred on him in the naval bill Of 1917.
to commander foreign merchant ships
within the jurisdiction of the United
States. the President by proclamation A-
sued to-day comma nded the Dutch ships
to be seized, stating that the impera-
tive military needs Of the United States"
required their utilization.
Acting under orders Of the President
and in accordance with plans already
laid, Secretary Daniels Immediately
wired orders to the naval crews held in
readiness to take possession Of the ships
in the name of tie United States and
discharge their Dutch crews. The ships
which passed tonight into control OF this
Government number sixty-eight. with 4
total tonnage of 100000. At the same
time Great Britain seized 400, 900 tons
IN British waters.
The Presidents action was taken at s
O'Clock this evening after the receipt Of
! cable message from London, which
showed that the negotiations there aimed
to procure Hollands assent to the agree
p'. "u. vou..oh uau iAneu; @ .ne
! 80 u"u. 49, " .a a'oou IiI"
tions made on Monday
Statement by President.
Coincident with the issuance Of the
seizure order the President issued a
statement reviewing the negotiations
and justifying the action of this Gov
srnment. The statement, made public
nation. follows:
.na ~ En...S III, otaes
a,,,,,nS nSs,,s.,. .., ee" .o"
Cnr.rn,,an, ,,,,,t ,rs 80. e I,.I
~. .n.,, ..a ~ LIZ. ". w.
s 80, . "ei
,c,.r 40 .,.sa .o,ia.tn ~.
m Nar,,, ~ o.. .,, n,,.., ,n.',,. ..aue
nv h;s I,,o.,,. ~ H
aior .r.;r. Jem.1 y.
go, ~ 10 "ppse'
naaaod "a" .ne u.scuss'o.i pIo-
n,snt,i nronosi,;a,s ,,'.
I-r,,ai S,,,p ~, 'na, .n7
ii,a, ~ .. GU ~ ,"v"'
foosls,ues anI a,..u ',,,,,s,.".
o,,;roa 49, ,,,a;,,,; ., ~.
,ha, uo,.na snn,,,, . ~ "
.haa. ,,as,,
,o,',',,, mar NV ~ '''''"t ''''a'''o" VI
/. ..,, ,..
/, st Wv ~ ~ neko't" 'o' "
'.f q" 'f' ~ ''t'i,,nt'' VI 'he."
,",' ,,o's "m',u WIN pe ac'ep'a''e
,r '",.erhen
.. =" i'i'' '"e Hsko
-" 80 w. q" mn. >'"''"'"s WHICH
NnS e'''po''le' - '"n'"'F' "sreement
,'1," "'' ~ ',' .'o'et"'
L.' ,.' III o'oc' 'u"t II "cceP-
'a"Ie y might pc ra'ihe'' or II unac-
4
'''''
T'"P"'s' '" '"srter Sh'rs.
The negotiations becoming prolonSAd
the Dutch delegates proposed, in order
that their ships nigh, sooner be nut
into remunerattve service. that Dutch
tonnage living idle in American waters
should with certain exceptions be i'm.
medlstrly chartered to the United states
; for periods NOT exceeding ninety day,
This proposal was accepted by the
. United States Government and on Jan.
uarv %. 1915, the r,,tch Minister A.
| 60. - ~. I,,i,., 60. VI
pressing the terms Of tho temporary
charterlng agreement and his Govern.
ment's acceptance thereof
This agreement provided, among
other things, that 1890 tons Of Dutch
shipping should At the discretion Of IN.
United States he employed nartly in the
service of Belgian relief and partly fol
Switzerland on safe conduct TO CAre.
France. and that for each snip sent -
Holland in the service Of Belgian relief
a corresponding vessel should leave Ho,.
land for the United states Two Dutch
ships in rho United States ports with
carEces Of foodstuffs we're To proceed 20
Holland. similar tonnage belng sent In
, exchange from Holland 10 the L-nited
!, states for charter as in the case Of other
. Dutch ships lying in the United s'a'.s
ports
. The aGr..men, was exrlici,ly tenn