South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-13
j. s. REPLIES
To HOLLAND
SHIP PROTEST
Lansing Demonstrates Action
by U. S. Was One of Prime
Necessity Due to Huns
Menacing Attitude.

WASHINGTON, April 13.-Amer-
ica's reply to the recent statement
of The Netherlands government bit
terly protesting against and de-
nouncing the action Of the United
States in taking over Dutch ships in
it's ports was made public tonight in
the form OF a memorandum by Secy
Lansing. a copy Of which has been
sent TO the Netherlands legation.
Pointing out that the Netherlands
government itself does not question
the legality of the act, Mr.. Lansing
devotes himself to a demonstrat ton
that it was an act of necessity re-
sulting from Germany's menacing
attitude which prevented Holland
from fulfilling her engagements, and
that instead OF an injustice the step
results in real benefit 20 the Dutch
ship owners and people.
The memorandum follows:
The Netherlands government has
| issued a statement relative TO the
recent action of the government OF
the United States in putting into its
service for the period of the present
war emergency certain privately
owned vessels of Netherlands regis
! try lying within the territorial juris-
! diction Of the United States. While
! this action is referred to as being in
defensible from the standpoint of
international law. the statement of
/ the Netherlands government does
not argue the question of legality.
Nor is this government disposed TO
do so.
In Accord With Precedent.
THE practice of nations and the
| opinions of jurists on the right of
| belligerent to utilize all vessels
which come voluntarily and uncon-
ditionally within its jurisdiction are
sufficiently well known to render
citation of precedent and Of author
ity unnecessary. But as the Neither
lands government themselves sug-
gested. our actions must be subject
ed to a finer test than of mere le
gality.
/ The Netherlands government first
declares that the very presence of
/ Dutch ships in our ports resulted
from our detention Of them with an
unfriendly hand. While our right
to refuse bunkers and cargo licenses
is conceded. friendship, it is said.
should have led to the granting Of
special privileges in favor of the
subjects Of a friendly state. Our
own supply OF bunker coal at sea-
board has been inadequate for our
I
goes which we're demanded were
| largely of grain. of which our own
| reserves are all too low. The bunk
ers, If granted, would have served
TO carry this grain to the Neither
lands where, as events have demon
| strated. it was not then needed and
where it would only have served to
release equivalent foodstuffs for the
enemy.
Ships Were Idle.
The owners of Dutch ships were,
however, unwilling that their ships
should perform any other services
than those which 1t was clearly i'm
possible for us 10 facilitate. and the
ships of this maritime nation ac-
cordingly lay idle for many months
and until the conclusion on Jan. %,
1918, OF the temporary shipping
agreement proposed by the Neither
lands commissioners at London and
accepted by the United States
The statement Of the Neither
lands government seems to imply
that this agreement was in fact lived
up to by the Netherlands govern
ment, yet evidence to the contrary
is found in the statement itself.
which refers to German objections as
having prevented performance by
that government Of what is er-
roneously referred 70 as America :
demand but what was in reality a
Netherlands undertaking that when
a Dutch ship left the United States
for the Netherlands a corresponding
Dutch vessel should simultaneously
leave the Netherlands for the United
States.
:. Had No Alternative.
AS recently as March IA, 1918.
after the Netherlands government
had been informed that the situa-
ton had reached a point where the
associated governments could see
! no alternative but requisitioning. a
note was presented on behalf OF the
Netherlands government expressing
the hope that Germanys objections
might still he overcome. so as 70
permit at some future date COM
plete performance OF this agree
ment.
"One year ago the United States
abandoned its neutrality and pledged
its entire resources of life and treas
ure &c ensure the triumph OF de-
mocracy over autocracy and 10 as
sist 10 save the world from the
blight OF militarsm As a result OF
a species OF naval warfare directed
against belligerents and neutrals
alike which the Netherlands gov
eminent have themselves declared "a
be illegal there has during he
period existed "a shortage OF shipping
which threatens 20 postpone al
frightful cost the ultimate victory.
During this period there have
been living in ports of the United
States and subject TO its Jurisdiction
and control approximately 500. 900
tons Of ships OF Netherlands reg
istry. At any time within a wear
tho TTrffaH ,,,frrtrs l.r-.