New-York tribune., 1918-03-21
Million Tons Taken
Over; " Vessels
Added to Amer
lean Marine
To Be Used Mostlv
For Food Trade
Hollands Interests To
Be Protected, Says
Wilson; Navy to
Man Craft

w TA'iAAA>N VI Wv, INdlCH LU.-OpOD
Hollands refusal, in the face of Ger
man threats, to pput into effect her
voluntary agreement for restoring her
merchant marine to normal activity,
the United States government tonight
requisitioned all Dutch ships in Ameri-
can waters. At the same time Great
Britain was taking over Dutch vessels
in British ports.
Although the ships have been taken
over without any formal agreement,
the United States proposes to carry
out scrupulously the terms of the
original pact, so that Holland shall re-
ccive ample foodstutfs and will be pro
tccted in her colonial trade by having
sufficient tonnage to maintain it's COM
merce.
A total of seventy seven ships of
probably 100000 tons were added to
the American merchant marine by the
rcquisitioning. Another 100000 tons
are put into the Allied service by
Great Britain's action. Most of them
will be used in the food carrying trade
between the United States and Europe.
Germany Blocked Agreement
In q statement outlining the negotia-
tions which preceded the requsition-
ing, President Wilson pointed out that
the permanent agreement with the
Dutch government had been blocked
by Germany despite the little king
dom's acute need of foodstutfs, for
which the agreement provided. A
temporary agreement then was ne
gotiated to tide over the emergency,
and that, too, was held UP by Prus-
sian diplomacy.
Although the reason never was
formally expressed" the President
said, "it was generally known that the
Dutch shipowners feared lest their
ships should be destroyed by German
submarines. That this fear was not
wholly unjustified has unhappliy been
shown by the recent act Of the German
government in sinking the Spanish ship
Sardinero outside the danger zone,
when carrying cargo OF grain for
Switzerland, and after the submarine
commander had ascertained this fact
by an inspection of the ships papers"
For two months the proposed agree
ments lay in diplomatic pigeon holes
without action, ana meanwhile, the
President says, German threats have
posal to Holland was transmitted on
March and set last Monday as the
time by which a reply was wished.
Act of Military Necessity
Failing to receive a favorable reply,
the United States proceeded to requisi-
ton the ships as dictated by military
necessity.
AS late as o'clock last night it was
disclosed that President Wilson during
the day had been informed Of the de-
lay in the Dutch reply, with the re-
quest that he indicate whether or not
the reQuisitioning should proceed. He
decided to await the formal reply, which
proved unacceptable, although under
other conditions it might have served
as basis for further negotiations.
The Presidents proclamation was is
sued Immediately, authorizing the navy
to take over the vessels, which will be
equipped and operated by the Navy De-
partment and the Shipping Board, the
Dutch crews being supplemented by
American civilian sailors and naval re-
servists. Compensation will be made
to the owners as required by law.
Every effort was made to avoid dras-
tic action, as transfer bv agreement
was sought. rather than by seizure, al
though the latter is an exercise of SOW
ereign rights justified in international
law and practsed by all nations.
Order in Effect at 1905 p. NJ.
Secretary Daniels announced that the
naval order actually taking over the
ships went into effect at 1905 o'clock.
Through the Bureau of Navigation, the
department began several days ago to
concentrate at the ports where the
ships are lying the naval reservists
who are to form the new crews. 1t is
not expected that there will be enough
Of these available to completely man
all the ships taken over, but fairly
complete fireroom and engineroom
forces already have been selected, with
part OF the deck forces for most Of the
ships.
Some of the Dutch sailors will be
used and the others will be kept in this
country if they wish, their wages being
paid by the United States government.
Those who desire to return to Holland
will be transferred there as fast as ac-
commodations can be found
Final disposition os the tonnage al
lotted to this government will be a
matter for future conference between
the executive departments. It is
thought probable that the tankers at
least will be added to the naval supply
flotilia.
President Wilson's statement in full
follows:
For some months the United States
and the Entente Allies have been con-
Quoting negotiations with the Dutch
government with the ohiect nf cor~l,,s
ing general commercial agreement.
"a very clear statement OF the char
acter of these negotiations was made
on March u 70 the Dutch parliumnnt