The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-03-23

to the United States for periods not
exceeding 80 days This proposal was
accepted by the United States govern
ment.
This agreement provided, among
other things, that 10000 tons of
Dutch shipping should at the discre-
ton of the United States, be employed
partly i'm the service of Belgian relief
and partly for Switzerland on safe
conduct to Cette, France, and that
for each ship sent to Holland i'm the
service of Belgian RELIEF, u correspond
ing vessel should leave Holland for
the United States. Two Dutch ships
i'm the United States ports with car
goes of foodstuffs were to proceed to
Holland. similar tonnage being sent in
exchange from Holland to the United
states for charter as in the case of
other Dutch ships lying in the United
States ports.
Tho agreement was explicitly tenn
porary I'm character. and being design
ed to meet an immediate situation
prompt performance was of the es-
sence. The Dutch government at
once declared, however, that it was
unwilling or unable to carry out this
chartering agreement which il had it
self proposed. The first desire of the
United States was to secure at once
shipping. as contemplated by the
agreement, to transport to Switzer-
land foodstuffs much needed by that
State. One difficulty after another
was, however, raised to postpone the
chartering of Dutch ships for Swiss
relief. and, although the reason was
never formally expressed, it was gen
orally known that the Dutch ship
owners feared lest their ships should
be Destroyed by German submarines,
even though on an errand of mercy,
and though not traversing any OF the
so-called danger zones proclaimed
by the German government.
In respect of Belgian relief, the
Dutch government expressed it's pres
ent inability to comply with the
agreement on the ground that the
German government had given Hol-
land to understand that it would for
chilly prevent the departure from Hol-
land OF the corresponding ships, which
under the agreement were to leave
coincidentally for the United States.
The Dutch government even felt it.
self unable to secure the two cargoes
Of foodstuffs. which under the agree
ment il was permitted to secure,
since here again the German govern
ment intcrvened and threatened to
destroy the equivalents Dutch tonnage
which under the agreement was to
leave Holland for the United States
Nearly two months have clapsa /
since the making of the temporary
chartering agreement. and the pro-
posed general agreement has lain even
longer without reply on the part OF
Holland. Meanwhile. German threats
have grown more violent.
"On March Z. through Great Brit
/ ain, n final proposal expiring on the
18th. was submitted to Holland a re.
ply has been received while in itself
unacceptable, might under other con-
ditions have served as "a basis for
further negotiations, But the events
to which l have alluded had served
\ to demonstrate conclusively that we
have been attempting to negotiate
where the essential basis for an
agreement. namely, the getting of free
wills. is absent. Even were An agree
ment concluded there is lacking that
power OF Independent action which
alone can assure performance.
Il say this not i'm criticism Of the
Dutch government. profoundly
sympathize with the difficulty of her
position under the menace of n mil
itary power which has in every way
demonstrated it's disdain of neutral
rights. But. since coercion does i'm
fact exist, no alternative is left to us
but to accomplish, through the exer-
else of our indisputable rights as n
sovereign. that which is not reason
able that i'm other circumstances we
/
II by agreement. Steps are according
| ly be taken to put into our service
Dutch shipping lying within our ter
| ritorial Jurisdiction. This action on
our part and the similar action which
~ beins taken by governments as
sociated with us leaves to Holland
| ample tonnage for her domestic and