The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
Holland in Face of German Threats Refused to Stand
 by Own Agreement
PRESIDENT WILSON
 WAITS ANSWER AND
 THEN ACTS QUICKLY
No Undue Advantage is to Be Taken of Little Nation
 Coerced by Berlin

Washington, March 2O.
 Upon Hollands refusal, in the
 face of German threats, to put into effect her voluntary agree
 ment restoring her merchant
 marine to normal activity, the
 United States government to-
 night requisitioned all Dutch
 ships in American waters. At
 the same time Great Britain
 was taking over Dutch vessels
 in British ports.
 A total of IT ships of probably 60O,-
 GOO tons were added to the American
 merchant marine by the requisition- ing. Another 100000 tons are put into the allied service by Great Brit
 aims action. Most of them will be used in the food carrying trade be- tween the United States and Europe. President Wilson's proclamation taking over the ships was issued only after word finally came from London N that Hollands delayed reply was ! detection of the British American de- rland The government had waited more than 4S hours beyond the time when Holland had been requested to make a decision as to whether she would carry out the original pact or submit to requisitioning. Every effort so onti iny, a e transfer by agreement was sought rather than by seizure. although the latter is an exercise of sovereign rights justified in international law and practiced by all nations.
 WAITED FOR ANSWER As late as o'clock tonight it was disclosed that President Wilson during the day had been informed of the dc- lay in the Dutch reply. with the re- quest that he indicate whether or not the requisitioning should proceed He decided to await the formal reply. which proved unacceptable. although under other conditions it might have served as basis for further negotia- tons.
 The Presidents proclamation was issued immediately authorizing the navy to take over the vessels which will be equipped and operated by the ravy department the Dutch crews be- ing supplemented by American civil sailors and naval reservists. Compen- sat.on will be to the owners as re- quired by law.
 BLOCKED BY GERMANY In a statement outlining the nego- | ti;l1 Jns President Wilson pointed that the permanent agreement with the ! Dutch government had been blocked ! by Germany despite the little king ! dom's acute need of foodstuffs. for which the agreement provided. A tenn i porary agreement then was negotiated \ to tide over the emergency and that, ' too. was held up by Prussian diplo- 4 macy.
 "Although the reason never was for < mally expressed" the President said, ! it was generally known that the Dutch 1 ship owners feared lest their ships ' should be destroyed by German subma- ! rine That this fear was not wholly ' unjustified has unhappily been shown ' by the recent act of the German gov | ernment in sinking the Spanish steamer | Sardinero outside the danger zone when I carrying cargo of grain for Swift 1 zerland and after the submarine com { rnander had ascertained this fact by an | inspection of the ships papers" TWO MONTHS DELAY For two months the proposed agree \ ments lay in diplomatic pigeon holes l! without action and. meanwhile, the ! President says German threats have
 grown more violent" The final pro
 posal to Holland was transmitted on T March '. and set last Monday as the
 time by which reply was wished.
 Failing to receive favorable reply, the
 United States proceeded to requisition
 the ships as dictated by military ne
 cessty.
 Although the ships have been taken over without any formal agreement, ths United States proposes to carry out
 scrupulously the terms of the origina 1 pact, so that Holland shall receive am
 pie foodstuffs and will be protected ir
 (Continued on Page Nfne)