Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-03-21
President Wilson, After Patient
Waiting for Agreement From
the Hague. Takes Drastic
Action to Get Tonnage,
GERMAN THREATS BACK
OF DUTCH RETlCENCE
Owners of Vessels Are to Be
Fully Indemnified for All
Losses and For Their Use
During Period of War.
,sr MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL lEAsso urssI

,sr MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wisEI
Washington, March 20. 49, Upon
EollanGs refusal in the face of Ger
man threats, to put into effect her
voluntary agreement for restoring her
merchant marine TO normal activity,
he United States government tonight
requisitioned all Dutch ships in Am
erlcan waters. At the same time
Great Britain was taking over Dutch
vessels in British ports,
A total of seventy-seven ships OF
probably 100000 TONS was added to
the American merchant marine by the
rcQuisitioning. Another 100000 tons
are put into the allied service by
Great Britains action. Most of them
will be used in the food d-carrying trade
between the United States and
Europe,
President Wilson's proclamation
taking over the ships was issued only
after word finally came from London
that Hollands delayed reply was q
rejection OF the British h-American de-
mand The government had waited
more than forty-eight hours beyond
the time when Holland had been re-
quested to make decision as to
whether she would carry out the
original pact or submit to requisition-
ing. Every effort was made to avoid
drastic action as transfer by agree
mrnt was sought, rather than by
seizure, although the latter is an ex-
elcise of sovereign rights justified in
international law and practiced by
all nations.
Takes Immediate Action.
As late as 6 o'clock tonight 1t was
disclosed that President Wilson dur
ing the day had been informed of the
delay in the Dutch reply. with the
request that he indicate whether the
requisitioning should proceed. He
decided to await the formal reply
which proved unacceptable although
under other conditions it might have
served as a basis for further nego-
tiations.
The presidents proclamation was
issued Immediately, authorizing the
ravy to take over the vessels. which
will be equipped and operated by the
navy department and the shipping
board, the Dutch crews being supple
mented by American civilian sailors
and naval reservists, Compensation
Will be made to the owners as re.
quired by law.
Although the ships have been taxi
en- over without any formal agree
ment, the United States proposes to
carry out scrupuously the terms of
the original pact, so that Holland
shall receive ample foodstuffs and
will he protected in her colon
ial trade by having sufficient tom
mage to maintain its commerce.
Germany Blocked Negotiations.
In statement outlining the nego-
tations which preceded the requisit,
icning, President Wilson pointed out
that the permanent agreement with
the Dutch government had been
blocked by Germany despite the little
Kingdoms acute need of foodstuffs,
for which the agreement provided. 4
temporary agreement then was nego-
tiated to tide over the emergency and
that, too, was held up by Prlssian
diplomacy.
although the reason never was
formally expressed" the president
said, ''it was generally known that
the Dutch ship owners feared lest
their ships should be destroyed by
German submarines That this fear
was not wholly unjustified has un-
happily been shown by the recent
act of the German government in
the Spanish ship Sardinero
outside the danger zone. when car
rying a cargo of grain for Switzer-
land, and after the submarine COM
mander had ascertained this fact by
an inspection of the ships papers"
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