Arizona republican., 1918-03-19
The Dutch Ships

In frequent Washington references within the past week to the determination of the United States and Great Britain force the Dutch ships which are in the ports of those countries into the service or the allies it has been stated that that was to be accom- plished under international law. That has been somewhat mystfying since no recent work on inter- national law authorizes that practice Such enforced service moreover, if it involves the carrying of troops, munitions of contraband of war is in violation of not only The Hague convention but of earlier regulations against unneutral service
 The dispatches of yesterday morning for the first time threw some light the matter stating that the Dutch ships would be seized under the ancient law of angary." That takes back a long way into history in fact back to feudal government when the power existed to exact vlenage; to compel any sort of service the liege lord public service of any kind including transportation service, by we SUD- pose, as well by land
 At first this power extended only the subjects or vessels of the liege and then extended over the subjects of the state The same power, in diff ferent form exists in all countries today, in the United States we'll but it be given effect only by legislation which is applicable to all alike where as under the feudal law and later any individual might be called upon to perform public service.
 When this power extended to compelling neutral service. rather the service of neuras we do not know but certainly such use of it has not been made in modern times. The word, "angary' is derived from the Greek "aggaros," courier engaged in the carrying of royal dispatches It is related to the Greek, "aggeos." "angel7 messenger"
 The revival of the law of angary may be regarded as the re-enacment of the law of necessity rather than as a recourse recognized international law. It is justified only the ground of necessity but also because it is directed against enemy who has violated every international law that has in any way restricted him, among them the~law regulating the laying of mines and the manner of conducting sea warfare against neutrals.
 In forcing Holland into this arrangement the United States and Great Britain have not only made liberal concessions to that country but they have undertaken to recompense the for the of their ships and to pay for those which may be de- stroyed in the service. Many Dutch ships have a- ready been destroyed by mines and submarines. Whether they shall be paid for depends upon Ger many. So, far the shipping and commerce of Holland will be concerned the enforced arrangement will be better for that country than it's present status of restricted shipping. Holland has nothing to lose on the and much to gain
 The Dutch have gone into this arrangement. we suspect with greater show of reluctance than they actually feel, for the greatest menace of Holland is not on the but the land An appearance of willingness to to the demand of the allies would probably be seized upon by Germany as preteXt for the invasion of that country whose ports would be of the utmost strategic value.
 There about 100000 tons of Dutch shipping in the ports of this country and Great Britain sub ject to angariaton Whether the Dutch ships in home ports and those engaged ill service between Holland and it's colonies will be brought into the service of the allies has been disclosed they probably will not be. The tonnage released for the allied service at the recent rate of destruction of British ships, would occupy the submarines for about three months. But undoubtedly the destruc- tion would proceed much more rapidly for while the Germans have held themselves somewhat in restraint as to Dutch shipping not actually engaged in com merce with the allied countries the taking over of the Dutch ships will probably be the signal for an enlarged and ndiscriminate submarine warfare against all neutral shipping wherever it may be found