New-York tribune., 1918-03-24
Foreign Minister Says the
Allies Acted 'Without
Shred of Justice"
Likened to German
Violation of Belgium
Wilson Is Denounced for
"Holding a Pistol at
Our Head

Seizure of Dutch shipping by the Allied
governments was unjust, DR.. Loudon,
the Dutch Foreign Minister, declared
to-day in the Upper Chamber.
"Without shred of justice" he
said, "the associated governments have
carried out the proposal, although the
Dutch government in its reply went as
far as possible to meet the demands
OF the associated powers. The resound-
ing protest of the government will find
an echo in the two chambers and
among the whole Dutch people. 1t is
a protest imbued with the principle
of right. The government will not have
to reproach itself, if the country is
subjected to severe trials. with not
having done it's utmost TO prevent this
injustice"
In the upper chamber Senator j. T.
Cremer attacked the United States
after the Foreign Minister had COM
pleted his statement. The Senator re-
called the Hudson-Fulton celebration
in New York to commemorate the dis
covery of the Hudson River.
Flag Dishonored"
"a committee was sent to America y
he said, "and the speaker who repre-
sented the Dutch government was re-
ceived with cheers by the Americans
when he made a speech comnemorat-
ing the achievements of his Dutch an
cestors Then the Americans had tears
in their eyes when they saw our flag.
The eyes of Americans have no tears
, to shed now over the dishonor of our
flag.
"America regards neutrality as par
. tisanship. We refuse to furnish war
materials to the Allies-that is the
head and front of our offending"
Senator Cremer asked what flag
would be flown from the seized ships,
and said he hoped it would not be the
he hoped it would be hoisted at half
mast. Referring to President Wilson,
. the Senator declared:
''President Wilson calls himself our
friend. Well. Heaven preserve US from
. cur friends."
The Senator said he hoped the Dutch
would rot take reprisals. which could
be carried out easily against the an
fortunate interned prisoners in Hol-
land, but they should render good for
evil.
t;Hiy JSuttSIuSN LcII
"Our free and proud nation should
prove that in these days of brutality
the Dutch are the only gentlemen re-
naming in Europe" he. concluded.
Other speakers also criticised Presi-
dent Wilson. Deputy van kel, So
cialist, said:
me seizure of the Dutch fleet by
President Wilson under the pretext OF
war necessity is as bad as the viola
tion of Belgium by Germany on the
same pretext. We will maintain our
independence, come what may. The
American people have been misin-
: formed, and their indignation will be
great when they learn the truth"
"The government had too much faith
in the friendly speeches of. former
American Minister van Dyke" decla red
Deputy Hooft, an anti-revolutionist
ITO our shame the government has not
considered that often a wolf disguses
himself in sleeps clothing. America
has followed the practice of a brigand
by holding d pistol to our head. The
associated governments have acted
like common thieves"
Selfishness Charged
Admiral Roch said the United States
: was taking advantage of the war tc
. - cave i1o O"H merchant meet, ana de-
, clared that England, aware of this, was
. naturally seeking. by seizing neutral
+. tonnage, to fill out the gaps in its own
merchant marine arising out of the
submarine warfare; but, nevertheless
+ England, he thought, would fail tc
i keep its new competitors, the United
. States and Japan, out of the British
. spheres OF interest. The Entente Pow
: ers, ne asserted, were attempting tc
4 place blame upon Germany for doine
Z exactly what they themselves were
. doing.
! The neutrals were placed in pre-
carious position, not by the submarine
warfare. Admiral Roch said, but pri
marily by Americas refusal to permit
exports Of foodstuffs. fodder and fer
: tilizer to European neutrals in orde,
:. 10 prevent their reexportation to Ger
many, ard secondly by the neutrals
z being forced, through fear Of starva.
:. ton, to surrender their tonnage.
THE HAGUE. March 2s.-1n address.
:, ing the Dutch Parliament, DR.. Loudon
= the Foreign Minister, declared tina,
= President Wilson's statement thai
Dutch vessels were idle in ports OF
g the United States was "absolutel,
=, without foundation.' DR.. LoudoT
: added that under the provisional agree
r nent the greater part of them were
], already chartered and some Of tbero
n already navigating
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