The Washington herald., 1918-03-23
DUTCH BITTER
OVER SEIZURE
OF ALL SHIPS
Administration Confident Of
Better Feeling When US.
Attitude Is Understood.

Onicial and popular opinion in
Holland was stirred to the hottest
indignation by the first publication
there of the requisition by the
United States and England of the
Dutch ships. Since that time the
full text of the Presidents state
ment explaining the allied action
has been cabled to Holland.
His clear exposition of the legali-
ty of the action and his uneQuivocal
promise that Holland will get all
she wanted for herself under her
proposed agreement is counted on
by officials Of the War Trade Board
to change the official and popular
sentiment
Feeling Bitter.
That both official and popular
sentiment in Holland was bitter
was confirmed yesterday at the
Dutch legation here.
August Phillips. Netherlands min
mister here. declared that the
translations OF the speech Of For
eign Minister Louden had misrepre-
sented what he said. The Dutch of
his expression had been rendered in
the press dispatches as describing
the action of the United States as
all but benevolent"
THE correct translation" said
Mr.. Phillips. lis anything but benev-
olent." In English the distinction
is very apparent and very impor-
tant. The Dutch expression lends
itself wrongly to the milder Eng
lish meaning"
Mr.. Phillips Is yet without word
from his government as to the ac-
tion she will take. He refuses to
discuss II. In quarters close to the
legation. however. a press dispatch
predicting Mr.. Phillips early recall
and the early dismissal of the
United States Ambassador at the
Hague was ridiculed.
American officials explained last
night that indignation in Holland
was probably due to the unfortun-
ate phrasing of the first story sent
to Holland on the contemplated ac-
tion by the United States and Eng
land. This story described the final
communication of the United States
as an 'ultimatum" and the action
she proposed taking as the seizure"
of the Dutch vessels.
Forced to Do II.
The President makes it clear that
the United States was forced into
peremptory action by the German
coercion exercised against Holland.
This German coercion has been ad-
mitted by Dutch officials, in the
course of the negotiations. The Pres
ident carefully refrains from any
words that might lend color Of illeg-
ality to the action of the United
States, though this circumspection
was not observed in some of the early
press dispatches which reached Hol-
land.
1t Is further expected that when
the Dutch people realize the lengths
to which the President has promised
to go to ration their country and to
facilitate their colonial trade, there
will be a distinct revulsion against
Germany, whose action has been con-
sistently harsh towards her little
neighbor.
1t Is realized that the case of the
allies will have to face a powerful
German propaganda in Holland. Of
ficials at the Dutch Legation deny
that the first Indignation was caused
by German Misrepresentation. They
insist that 1t is solid Dutch senti-
ment. But American officials realize
that Germany will seek in every way
to try to play up the allied action
as harsh.
As Holland can get food from the
allies and not from Germany, how
ever. and as the allies will let her
have the food and facilitate its trans
port while Germany's only action is
to threaten a submarine blockade
and make promises of aid which she
canot carry out. official were con-
fident last night that no real diff
culties with Holland will follow.