The Sentinel=record., 1918-04-13

government seems 10 imply that this
 agreement was in fact lived up to by 1 The Netherlands government. yet cyl-
 dence to tho contrary is found in the
 statement itself which refers to Ger
 man objections as having prevented performance by that government of 1 what is enormously referred 10 as Americas demand, but what was in reality a Netherlands undertaking,
 that when a Dutch ship left the i United States for The Netherlands l corresponding Dutch vessel should simultaneously leave The Neither Hands for the United States,
 "llad moi The Netherlands govern ment under German threats of yio- fence, which were a matter of com mon Knowledge, felt unable to carry out the temporary shipping agree mout it Is meyplcable that tho isteamers Samarinda and Adonis would not have sailed for a Dutch port with their Cargoes of foOdstuffs which. un-
 der the agreement The Netherlands
 was to receive and of which it was lasserted her people were in dire need Indeed. the statement of The Neither Hands minister for foreign affairs made to parliament on March 12. 1918, if it is correctly reported 10 us.
 sets out in considerable detail Ger manys objections which prevented performance of this shipping agree lment.
 As recently as March II, 1918. after The Netherlands government
 had been informed that the situation had reached a point where the as- 'sociated governments could see no al- tSJnative but reQulsitioning note was presented on behalf of The , Netherlands government expressing the hope that Gcrmanys objections might still be overcome so as tc per-
 init at some future date complete per formance of this agreement which was to have been put into operation inn
 Imediately upon its conclusion nearly . two months before
 "One year ago the United States abandoned its neutrality and pledged it's entire resources of life and treas
 ure 10 ensure the triumph of democ-
 racy over autocracy and to assist to save the world from the blight of mil itarism. As a result of a species of
 naval warfare directed against bel iHgerents and neutrals alike which lThe Netherlands government have
 themselves declared to be Illegal. there has during this period existed ,. shortage of shipping which threat ems to postpone at frightful cost the
 ultimate victory This has created an emergency which in magnitude and significance has seldom if ever before
 been equalled.
 During this period there have
 been lying in ports of the United
 States and subject to it's Jurisdiction land control approximately 5000 000 tons
 of ships of Netherlands registry At . any time within a year the United
 States might have exercised It's right to put these ships into a service use lful to 1t. Yet is forebore and for many
 months patiently negotiated, first in
 Washington and then in London until finally the temporary agreement Of January 25 was entered into No sooner was this agreement concluded than 1t broke down under German threats of violence which overruled
 the will of The Netherlands govern ment expressed therein.
 'Then and then only did the ! Limited States take steps to accom- lslsh through the exercise of it's own
 right that which it was hoped could
 ha ye been accomplished by agree men't and which The Netherlands government had been willing in part
 so to accomplish.
 "The action taken leaves available to The Netherlands government by far the greater part of their merchant marine and tonnage which, according to estimates of their own officials is ample for the domestic and colonial | needs of The Netherlands Shipping % required for these needs will be free l from detention on our part and will g be facilitated by the supplying Of hunkers. The balance is being put into a highly lucrative service, tho owners receiving the remuneration and the associated governments as suming the risks involved.
 '1n order 10 insure to The Nether- lands the futPe enjoyment of her merchant marine intact, not only will ; ships be returned at the termination of the existing w,Nr emergency, but the associated governments have of
 fered to replace in kSpd rather than
 in money any vessels Which may he , lost, whether by war or marine risk, one hundred thousand tons Of bread cereal which the German government when appealed 10, refused to supply have been offered The Netherlands oy ? the associated governments out or their own Inadequate supplies and ar engagements are being perfected 10 tender to The Netherlands govern
 CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO.