Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-03-21

Holland of foodstuffs and other com
rlodities required to maintain their eco
homie life, and that Holland should
restore her merchant marine to a normal
condition of activity.
Tentative Agreement Reached
cit was the task of the negotiators
to develop a specific application Of
these propositions which would be ac-
ceptable to the governments concerned.
early in January, 1918, the nego.
~tiatOrs came to IN understanding, which
was embodied in q tentative agreement
which was submitted to the govern
ments concerned in order that, if ac-
eeptable, it might be ratified, or, if un-
acceptable, a counter-proposal might be
made.
"The negotiations becoming prolong-
ed, the Dutch delegates proposed, in
order that their ships might sooner be
put into remunerative service, that
Dutch tonnage lying idle in American
waters should, with certain exceptions,
be Immediately chartered to the United
States for periods not exceeding 90
days.
= AORRoNA A&SS0ENS4
'FThis proposal was accepted by the
United States government, and on Jan
Gary %, 1918, the Dutch Minister at
Washington handed to the Secretary of
state of the United States a note ex-
pressing the terms of the temporary
chartering agreement and his govern
ment s acceptance thereof.
"This agreement provided among
other things, that 100000 tons of Dutch
shipping should, at the discretion of
the United States, be employed partly
in the service of Belgian relief and
partly for Switzerland on safe conduct
to Cette, France, and that for each ship
sent to Holland in the service of Bel
gian relief, a corresponding vessel
should leave Holland for the United
States.
1.-TWO Dutch ships in the United
States ports, with eargoes of foodstuffs,
were to proceed to Holland, similar ton
nage being sent in exchange from Hol-
land to the United States for charter in
the case of the other Dutch ship lying
in the United States ports.
Dutch Delay Action.
''The agreement was explicitly tenn
porary in character and, being designed
10 meet an immediate situation, prompt
performance was Of the essence. The
Dutch government at once disclosed,
however. that it was unwilling or I'M
,ble to carry out this chartering agree
nent which it had itself proposed.
''The first desire of the United States
vas to secure at once shipping, as con
emplated by the agreement to transport
switzerland foodstuffs much needed
" that state.
cone difficulty after another was,
raised to postpone the char
.ering of Dutch ships for Swiss rehef'
md. although the reason was never for
uollv EXPRESSED. it was generally known
hat the Dutch s~hipowners feared lest
heir ships should be destroyed by yer
nan submarines, even though on an en-
and of mercy, and though not ~travers
no any of the socalled danger zones
reclaimed by the German government
oThat this fear was not wholly I'M
justified has ~unhappily been shown py
be recent act of the German govern
nent in sinking the Spanish ship sar-
inero outside the danger o wheh
a cargo Of grain for Swltzer-
ana and after the submarine comman-
Ter had aseertained this fact by an IN
neetion of the ships papers.
Belaian Relief Presents Difficulty
''In respect of Belgian relief the
luteh government expressed its pres
Mt inability to comply with the agree
ncnt ON the ground that the German
,overnment had given Holland TO under
tand that it would forcibly prevent the
'enarture from Holland OF the cores
ships, which, under the agree
,ent. were to leave eoineidently for
he United States.
'sThe Dutch government even feit 1T
unable to secure the two eaFgoes
f foodstuffs, which, under the agree
tent it was permitted to secure, since
ere again the German government in
ervened aud threatened to destroy the
auivalent Dutch tonnage, which, un-
er the agreement, was TO leave Holland
or the United States.
'sNearly two months have elapsed
NEE the making Of the temporary char
agreement, and the proposed gen
raj agreement has lain even longer
tehnuk ~.nlx~ N khn ~,~a - I.lao~I