The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-03-18
WAITING DUTCH
REPLY BEFORE
SEEING SHIPS
Hollands Answer Reported
on Way and Day of Grace
Is Granted.
OTHER NEUTRALS NEXT
Washington Reaching Out for
30 TcutOn Vessels Now in
South America.
OTHER NEUTRALS NEXT
Special Despdtch 10 TIE SuN.

pPet"t DoopdtCH 10 lhk ClN.
WAsH1NGroN. March 1.-THE Admin
istration has determined upon a period
Of grace for Holland before taking the
precipitate action originally contem-
plated and seizing the Dutch ships in
American ports without more ado to.
morrow. Intimations have been con-
veyed unofficially to Washington that
Holland contemplates yielding to the de-
.mands of the United States. and Tues
day at the latest has been set as the
consNmmation of this expectation.
Agreement within this time would re-
lieve the Dutch Government OF many OF
the embarrassments incident to an ac-
tual seizure by the United states au-
thorities of the liners and freighters now
under the flag OF the Netherlands.
The placing OF some seventy Dutch
vessels under allied charter with allied
colors would give the Allies assurances
that all necessary transatlantic exports
from America during the ensuing three
months can 70 forward on schedule
time. but 1t does not mark the end OF
negotiations and diplomatic moves cal.
culated to bring other neutral ships into
transatlantic trade to replace vessels
lost in the war zone.
tut iIlOutIiS tHe lTaOe BOARD and tht
Shipping Board experts have been con.
sidering carefully the moves by which
the ships Of the Netherlands and othe,
neutrals might be forced to serve the
transportation needs of Europe in bette,
shape.
Will Control All Shipping.
1t 10 an open secret that by astutt
supervision OF imports and exports and
OF the sale OF bunker coal the .illies
and America have been able to weave a
web which sooner or later will give &c
the allied forces control Of every shir
which sails the sea. The master thread
OF the web is the coal supply. for with.
out consent Of the Allies 1t is impossible
to-day for steam driven ships to remain
in service
With the acquisition OF the Dutch
ships interest has turned to a cons.dera
tion OF what the United States may seek
to accomplish In further Strengthening
Its shipping facilities. For months II
has been known that negotiations were
being carried on between the United
States and Austria and Germany LOOKING
to the sale Of vessels caught by the
wars outbreak in ports OF the South
American neutrals. The negot,a ton.
have taken the form OF guarantees to bs
fulfilled by Switzerland or some othe,
neutral nation to give to the Centra
Powers needed raw materials in return
for the ships
Germany and Austria have been in.
huenced to carry forward these nego;!a.
tions through fear that the ships woult
be lost to them forever II the Soutf
American countries either entered tn.
war or seized the ships for their own use
and sent them to American ports, wher,
they would fall under the control OF the
Allies.
Eighty Teuton Ships Held Up.
I. is understood that some eighty
Austrian and German ships are held ur
in South American ports. They are no,
rated in the class occupied by the Dutch
ships. many Of which can he used 70,
the transport Of troops. But they are
stanch vessels ana care has been taker
that their machinery should be kept ir
the best OF repair. How great ar
economic influence could be brought tc
bear upon neutrals in South America tc
force them to put the interned ships t.
commission Is question which only the
experts Of the War Trade Board are II
position to answer authoritatively
II is known. however. that America
has felt she could force Japan to accep,
new shipping programme at any time
and 1t is believed in view of the sue.
cess OF the plans bearing on control oi
the Dutch ships that equal advantages
could be gained should it be found
necessary to use this nations resources
and economic powers in forcing the
eighty ships held in South America &c
put to sea again.
The part which the fleets Of Sweden
Norway and Spain may play In the
worlds transportation problems in the
time before Americas shipbuilding
catches pace with the sinkings by U-boats
is another OF the interesting situations
which Is receiving no slight consideration
in official circles. So delicate are the
questions involved. however. that no Of
ticial will discuss the exact attitude which
In 4, ,na M la lul 70 talk