The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
UNABLE TO COMPLY


 Tn respect of the Belgian relief the Dutch government expressed its pres ent inability to comply with the agree ment on the ground that the German government had given Holland to un- derstand that it would forcibly pre- vent the departure from Holland of the corresponding ships which under the agreement were to leave coinoi- dentally for the United States. The Dutch government even felt itself un- able to secure the two cargoes of food stuffs which, under the agreement. it was permitted to secure, since here again the German government inter- Vened and threatened to destroy tho equivalent Dutch tonnage which. un- ger the agreement was to leave Hol- land for the United States.
 WILL AID HOLLAND
 Nearly two months have elapsed since the making of the temporary chartering agreement and the pro- posed general agreement has laid even longer without reply on the part of holland Meanwhile. German threats nave grown more violent, with a view to preventing any permanent agree ,nent and of forcing Holland to vlo- late any temporary agreement.
 on March 7. through Great Britain
 
 was submitted to Holland. A reply has Leen received which, while in itself unacceptable, might, under other con oitions have served as a basis for further negotiations. But the events to which l have alluded had served to oemonstrate conclusively that we have .eeh attempting to negotiate where eie essential basis for an agreement n'lnelv. the meeting of free wills. is |. yyn ciuded there is lacking that nower ~, ihaependent action which alone can assure performance.
 NO CRITICISM OF DUTCH
 T say this not in criticisn, ae .,. Dutch government. I profounllv sr,r,, sS .hlze With the difficulty of her nosition l anuer the menace of military power Mnien mas In every way demonstrated its oisaaln or neutral rights But. since co- erclon dSes in fact exist, no alternatiys IS iert to us but to accomplish, through the exercise of our indisputable rights as q sovereign, that which is so reason
 ..ae' III other circumstances, we couid ne confident of accomplishing if by agreement. ~
 steps are accordingly being taken to pu. into our service Dutch shipping lying Wltnin our territorial Jurisdiction This action on our part and the similar ac- ton which is being taken by governments associated with us leaves to Holland ample tonnage for her domestic and colonial needs.
 We have informed the Dutch govern ment that her colonial trade will he facilitated and that she may at once send ships from Holland to secure the bread cereals which her people require These ships will be freely bunkered and VIII pc immune from detention on our part The liner New Amsterdam. which came within our Jurisdiction under an agreement for her return, will of course, be permitted at once to return to Holland. No only so, but she will be authorized to carry back with her the two cargoes of foodstuffs which Hol- land would have secured under the tenn porary charterlng agreement had not Germany prevented. Ample compensation Will be paid to the Dutch owners of the ships which will be put into our service, and suitable provision will be made to meet the possibility of ships being lost through enemy action.
 Tt Is our earnest desire to safeguard to the fullest extent the interests of Holland and of her nationals. By ex- ercising in this crisis our admitted right to control all property within our ter ritory we do TO wrong to Holland The manner in which we proposed to exercise this right and our proposals made to Hol- land concurrently herewith, cannot. ] believe, fail to evidence to Holland the sincerity of our friendship toward her
 "WOODROW WILSON"