Evening journal., 1918-03-16
TEyTGNS IN race At
SHIP-SE ZlRE PLAN
Retaliation if Holland Per-
mitS Vessels TO be Taken
Is Threat
PROTEST IS
TO BE LODGED

LONDON, March i6.-The notice serv-
ed on Holland by Great Britain and the
United States regarding the taking over
OF Dutch ships in Allied ports, has
thrown the German press into a tower
ing rage the Copenhagen correspondent
Of The Exchange Telegraph Company
cables.
The newspapers demand that Ger
many take the most drastic counter
measures If Holland gives way to the
Allies.
AMSTERDAM, March i6-Extracts
from Vienna newspapers regarding the
Allied intimaliOn th1t Dutch shipping
/ in Allied ports would be taken over,
contain violent abuse OF the Entente
and Of the United States. The Neu Freie
/ Presse represents the proposed action
as making Dutch neutrality a thing Of
derision and an undisguised outrage. 70
is particularly bitter against the United
STATES. which 10 declares TO be primar-
/ lily responsible for this unprecedented
act Of violence against a neutral peO-
pie"
WASHINGTON. March i6-The sug-
gestion that Holland would acquiesce
in the decision Of Great Britain and
United States 90 requisitiOn Dutch
shipping was resented in Dutch official
circles here yesterday. and It was
stated that a spirited protest would De
entered at the State Department here
and at the London Foreign Ohlce.
Instead OF relieving Holland Of the
ah
was laboring. in view Of the German
opposition to the conclusion by Holland
OF an economic agreement between the
Netherlands and Che Allies, that EN-
barras -meni would be immeasurably
augment. it was insisted.
Germany 20 Na- said. probably vii
not ha satisfied with permitting Hol
land to enjoy any benefits from suci
am arrangcmeni and would be glad f.
create the presumption that HOLLAND
has passiNeiy assenied 60 t. 10 Is
therefore expected that Germany vii
bring immediate pressure TO bear upOr
the Dutch Government not to conten
itself with mere protests, but 10 TAXI
adequate measure, the alternative be
irr the adoption Of reialiatory meas
urrs 10y Germany.
Hollands pradicamenl, 10 was dcclar
cd IL being made considerably NOR
disagreeable and dinlcult by the dcci
sion Of America and Great Britain {.
take over her shipp ng. an eventualit,
which had not been expected by th
government at The Hague. although tn
possibility Of such an action bad bee
considered Of necessity on account q
what are now thought by it TO hav
been INSPIRED statements appearing Il
the British and American press durin
the last few months.
y Aside from the new danger TO HOl
lands neutrality on account Of IN
. American and British decision, it wa
p sad. Holland recOgn zes The fact tina
- her surest support, her merchant ma
rine. is being risked TO destruction an
that once lost many years would b
required 90 reconstruct IL.
B. There was also an apprehension iha
. Germany might prevent the sailing %
4 Dutch vessels from the Netherland
o. which are to be permitted by the Unite
: states and Engand 10 transport fee
- and foodstuffs ON America TO Hollan
on the ground that they, too, might b
seized by tho Niles What Hollan
4 might do in such a contingency, it va
admitted. would require the mos
D serious consideration OF the Dutch Gov
( ernmont
5 There is no fear that Holland, eve
under the pressure Of Germany, cOul
be induced 90 enter the war. Ate
having preserved her neutrality 10
n more than three md one-half year
under the most trying circumstances.
/, not now 90 be eXpcc ed. at this Tat
day. that anything except the actu,
invasion Of Holland herself woul
d., move the country 90 war a Dutc
authority asserted.
Whether. however. Germany woul
make good her recent threats and us
=. armed force in any rc'aliatory actio
was considered distinctly grave que
lion which must hc profoundly weigh,
hy The Dutch authorities in the negoti
p ii0ns which have now been institut,
- at The Hame, is The belief Of Dui,
= diplomatic circles here