The Washington herald., 1918-03-21
SEIZE DUTCH SHIPS
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for the military and naval estab-
lishments on account of war ex-
penses for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1917. and for the other pur-
poses," conferS upon the President
power to take over the possession
Of any vessel within the Jurisdic-
tion of the United States for use or
operation by the United States;
Now. therefore, l. Woodrow will
son, President of the United States
OF America, in accordance with in
ternational law and practice and by
virtue of the act of Congress afore-
said, and as Commander-in-chief Of
the army and navy Of the United
States, do hereby find and proclaim
that the imperative military needs
of the United States require the i'm
mediate utilization of vessels of
Netherlands registry, now lying
within the territorial waters of the
United States; and I do therefore
authorize and empower the Secre-
tary of the Navy to take over on
behalf of the United States the pos
session of and to- employ all such
vessels OF Netherlands registry as
may be necessary for essential pur-
poses connected with the prosecu-
tion of the war against the imperial
German government. The vessels
shall be manned, equipped and
operated by the Navy Department
and the United States Shipping
Board, as may be deemed expe-
dient; and the United States Ship
ping Board shall make to the own
ers thereof full compensation, in
accordance with the principles of
international law.
In testimony whereof. have
hereunto set my hand and caused
the seal of the United States to be
affixed.
Done in the District Of Columbia,
this twentieth day of March, in
the year Of our Lord one thou
sand nine hundred and eighteen,
and of the independence of the
United States of America the one
hundred and forty-second.
WOODROW WILSON.
By the President:
ROBERT LANSING.
Secretary of State.
DanieIs Statement.
Secretary Daniels last night made
the following statement telling how
the ships will be taken over:
''In compliance with a proclamation
of the President, and in accordance
with the rules Of International law
which gives to belligerent powers the
right In time Of military exigency and
for purposes essential to the prose-
cution of the war. the authority to
, take over and utilize neutral vessels
lying within its Jurisdiction, orders
were given to take over and man, by
the navy, all the Dutch ships now ly-
ing within the territorial waters of
the United States. These vessels will
be taken over Immediately and man
ned by the navy. and will be operated
as may be necessary for essential pur-
poses connected with the prosecution
Of the war. The services for which
they will be placed will be Jointly de-
termined between the Navy Depart
ment and the United States Shipping
Board. Later on 1t may become ad-
visable to man some Of these vessels
with merchant crews supplied by the
Shipping Board, dependent upon the
special service on which they will be
employed"
Ends Negotiations.
Last nights action marks the de-
cisive end Of q negotiation of months
in which America and the allies have
sought to make use of this treasure
OF the wars most vitality needed sup
plies. As through all the negotiation
so in the last act the allies have done
more than hew to the strict line of the
law. Every consideration for little
Holland has been shown.
Action has been delayed Tor forty
eight hours to weigh q last counter
proposal submitted to the negotiators
in London. Even in rejecting it Presi-
dent Wilson recognizes u is fair. He
recognizes the straits to which Hol-
land has been put. He says:
Even were an agreement conclLd-
ed, there Is lacking that power of M
dependent action which alone can as
sure performance. I say this not In
criticism Of the Dutch government. I
profepndly sympathiSs With her posi-