The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-04-04
DUTCH PROTEST
SHIP SEIZURE
HOLD ACTION or ALLIES w.
ACT OF VIOLENCE taAs
HOLLAND FREE FROM GERMANY
Was Not Forced to Refuse Demands
by Berlin. Pres. Wilson charg-
ed With Making False State
ments in Proclamation.

The Hague, April 1.-The seizure OF
the Dutch merchantmen in American
ports is characterized by the Dutch
government in a statement in the Of
fetal Gazette as an act of violence
which it will oppose with all the ener-
gy of it's conviction and it's wounded
national feeling"
The government takes issue with
the proclamation of President Wilson
regarding the decision of the United
States, saying it contains assertions
which are contrary to the facts.
with painful surprise the govern-
ment and whole Dutch nation has
taken notice of the presidential proc.
llamation and the statement of March
20 relative to the seizure of part of
the Dutch merchant fleet" the state
ment says.
1.-The seizure en- bloc of a neutral
merchant feet If only for the duration
of the war, is an act indefensible from
the viewpoint of international law and
unjustifiable towards a friendly ma
ton, apart from considerations of le-
gality.
| Against traditional Friendship.
But the manner also in which the
presidential statement defends this
act of violence does not contribute to-
ward lessening the sting thereof, for
this defense has plainly been drawn
up under the influence of completely
incorrect representation of affairs.
"The manner in which the Dutch
merchant fleet has been treated in
past months in the United States, the
way of our sailings from American
ports, repeated refusals of bunkering
facilities and forced unloading of car
goes already bought-all this may be
within the rights of the United States
(save one case, that Of the Zeelandia,
which with her own bunker coal en-
tered an American port and has been
unlawfully detained there sinee.J
at surely was against the tradition
al friendship between the two coun-
tries, although on this point the
presidential statement keeps silence.
Calls Wilson's Word Incorrect.
According to President Wilson's
proclamation, the Netherlands, owing
entirely to German pressure, failed to
observe the preliminary arrangement
which was proposed for the purpose
of leaving no longer idle the Dutch
tonnage in American ports and fur
nishing an opportunity for making
voyages within a period of ninety
days, pending definite agreement on
Dutch tonnage and rationing This is
distinctly incorrect.
at is equally as incorrect as the
ALLEGATION that Germany had threaten
ed to sink two ships which were to
sail from Holland with Americas APP
Iproval and that Germany had made
increasing threats to prevent both the
observance of such a preliminary ar
arrangement and the conclusion of a
permanent one. The facts of the case
Iare as follows:
After the American war trade
board had insisted that Dutch ships
lin American ports make trips pending
la definite arrangement, the Neither
lands government proposed that some
of the ships should make voyages for
THE commission for relief in Belgium,
which Holland has always fostered
lsedulously for the benefit of the dis
tressed Belgium and northern France.
Denies German Pressure.
"The fact is that majority of the
ships had been chartered under the
provisional agreement through the
WAR trade board and part were already
sailing to South America, but were
stopped enroute by the American au-
thorities, while in the Pacific ships ply
ing between the western coast of the
United States and the Dutch East In
dies made regular voyages without any
: impeachment, direct or indirect by the
Netherlands government. The ships
: now in British ports in and outside
Europe and in the Portuguese port OF
st. Vincent we're prevented from sail
ing by the British and Portuguese
t themselves.
o "As shown by the foregoing. the al
y legation that the Netherlands, owing
n to German pressure, was power1ess to
e observe the provisional agreement is
9 contrary to fact. That the president
s was incorrectly advised is proved con-
5 clusively on a point of greater inn
y portance. namely, where the statement
II mentions the new demand that the
Dutch ships would have to enter the
war zone and the seizure which fol
lowed Hollands reply.
E. After the incorrect allegation tina
ID Holland was unable to observe tn
h. provisional agreement" the statemer
ly continues. Great Britain on March
"a made Holland final proposal. wher,
rk upon Holland came forward with
lis counter proposal which was una
Iceptable.l'r