New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13

statement Of the Netherlands Minister
for Foreign Affairs, made in Parlia-
mont on March 10, 1918. If 1t is cor
rectly reported to US, sets out in con-
siderable detail Germany's objections,
which prevented performance Of this
shipping agreement.
Must Combat Illegal Warfare
"As recently. as March IA. 1918, after
the Netherlands government had been
informed that the situation had
reached point where the associated
governments could see no alternative
but requisitioning, note. was pre-
sented on behalf of the Netherlands
government, expressing the hope that
Germany's objections might still be
overcome, 80 as to permit at some
future date complete performance OF
this agreement, which was to have
been put into operation Immediately
and completely upon its conclusion,
nearly two months before.
abandoned it's neutrality, and pledged
its entire resources of life and treas
ure to insure the triumph of de'noc-
racy over autocracy, and to assist 10
save the world from the blight Of mill:
tarism. AS a result of a species OF
naval warfare directed against bel
ligerents and r1eutrals alike, which the
Netherlands government have them
selves declared to be illegal, there has
during this period existed shortage
of shipping which threatens to post
pone at frightful cost the ultlmate
victory. This has created an emer~
gency which in magnitude and slgnltl.
canoe has seldom, if ever before, been
equalled.
100000 Tons idle
During this period there have been
lying in ports Of the United States and
subject to it's jurisdiction and control
approximately 100000 tons of ships OF
within year the United States might
have exercised its right to put these
ships into service useful to it. Yet it
forebore, and for many months pa
tiently negotiated, first in Washington
and then in London, until finally the
temporary agreement, on January 20,
was entered into No sooner was this
agreement concluded than it broke
down under German threats of vio-
lence, which overruled the Will of the
Netherlands government expressed
therein.
"Then, and then only. did the United
through the exercise of its own right
that which it was hoped could have
been accomplished by agreement, and
which the Netherlands government had
been willing in part soft accomplish.
"The, action. taken leaves available to
the Netherlands government by far the
greater part of it's merchant marine
and tonnage, which, according to esti-
mates of it's own officials, is ample for
the domestic and colonial needs of the
Netherlands. Shipping required for
on our part and will be facilitated by
the supplying Of bunkers. The balance
is being put into highly lucrative SER
vice. the owners receiving the re-
Enumeration and the associated govern
ments assuming the risks involved.
Pledges to Holland
ON order to insure to the Neither
lands the future enjoyment of her mer-
chant marine intact not only will ships
be returned at the termination of the
| existing war emergency, but the assoc
ciated governments have offered to
replace in kind rather than in money
any vessels which may be lost, whether
by war or marine risk. One hundre d
thousand tons of bread cereal, which
the German government, when APP
pealed to, refused to supply, have been
offered to the Netherlands by the as
ISOLATED governments out of their own
inadequate supplies, and arrangements
arc being perfected to. tender to the
Netherlands government other COM
modities which they desire to promote
their national welfare and for which
they may freely send their ships.
"rhe statement of the Netherlands
government explicitly RECOGNIZES the
traditional friendship of the United
States toward their country 1t recog-
n!zes that. we have heretofore sought
to act in accordance with dictates of
right and justice and to champion the
interests of smaller nations 1t should
not, therefore, hastily be presumed
that we have now abruptly repudiated
that friendship and been false to those
ideals. 1t is, in fact, difficult to believe
that such a conclusion could be drawn
from this. exercise of our rights in a
manner which scrupulously safeguards
and indeed promotes, the national in
ter SITS of the Netherlands