Arizona republican., 1918-03-15
DUTCH SHIPS WILL HAVE
 TO PERFORM DUTIES FOR
 ALLIES, ULTIMATUM GIVEN
Million Tons of Shipping
 Will Be Paid for but Is to Be Used and President Refuses to Change Action
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

 erlands government, according to high authority here, was not informed that unless the Dutch ships in allied ports were unresevedly delivered to the allies by March 18 they would be taken over. But the British minister at The Hague informed the government that unless a satisfactory answer was forthcoming by March 18 regarding navigation of the danger zone by Dutch ships, other measures would have to be taken to get these ships moving.
 Governments Decide to Act
 WASHINGTON, March 14.-A mill lion tons of Dutch ships, now held in ports the world over, through Hollands s fear of Germany's threat to sink them if they venture out, will be brought into the service of the United States and Great Britain on March IS.
 Unless the Netherlands government braves the menace of Germany y's pressure and voluntarily accepts an agreement under which the ships would be put in trade, the United States and Great Britain will take them over un- der international law, availing them 1 selves of a sovereign right which Ger many herself has hitherto exercised under the same authority.
 Appeal for Modification Formal notice has been presented tC The Hague by the American and Brit ish diplomatic representatives of the allied governments intention. As a re- suit, today, The Netherlands minister August Philips, acting under instruc- | h do Fin and personal appeal to President Will son to at least modify the decision.
 The Associated Press is enabled t state that the president saw no reason for altering the decision and that un less the ships are turned over by mex Monday a presidential proelamatiol will be issued taking over the ships Il American ports of which there ar about so. Many more. however, ar in British or other allied ports.
 Forced by German Duress
 From the American official point 0 view the action is one into which tn allied governments have been force by the German duress of Holland whic may now see her ships in trade agair and can point out to Germany tha they were taken through no will of he own.
 
 the allied cause is for ships, this ac quisition of a million tons is of tre mendous importance.
 Every arrangement has been mad for the compensation of The Neither ; lands for the ships.
 Will Insure and Arm Ships
 They will be insured and armed, an if any are lost they will be replaced Besides material compensation for the use the United States will permit tn export of breadstuffs and cattle food which Holland needs sorely for her ow people, and in addition. will restore tn interrupted trade of Holland with he colonies by guaranteeing bunkers fo ! her ships in that trade.
 ! Under this arrangement Holland sti is left enough ships for her own need and has been notified that plentifl supplies of food await her if she send bottoms to carry it. By this arrange ment. officials point out, further re , sponsibility for food shortage in I'll Netherlands, if there be one, will re. . on Germany, if continued threats e
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