New-York tribune., 1918-03-25
Exports to Stop After
March 81, When Arrange
ments Expire
Dutch Call Ship
Seizure Robbery"
"Stain on History of the
United States, - De-
clares One Paper

AMSTERDAM, March 24.-In the
Main Committee of the Rechstae. at
a recent session, Matthias Erzberger,
the Centrist leader, inquired what the
government thought of doing in view
of the Entente's. pressure upon Hol-
land Baron Won dem Bussche- -Hadden-
hausen. Under Secretary for Foreign
Affairs. made confidential statement
in reply.
The newspaper "Handelsblad" learns
from German source that after March
81, when the economic arrangements
between Holland and Germany expire
the export OF coal will cease.
The seizure of Dutch ships is char
acterized by the "Neuwe Rotter-
damsche Courant" as an "act of rob-
berry and stain on the history of the
United States that cannot be wiped out
in decades"
Statements by Pres dent. Wilson and
Lord Robert Cecil, the British Minister
of Blockade, concerning the Dutch
shipping situation and explanatory
communications issued later in the
day by the American and British lega-
tions in The Hague done much to clear
the air, as was shown by the feeling
on the Bourse, where a smart recovery
in prices promptly set in.
at was like waking from a bad
dream," says the 'Handelsblad's' Stock
Exchange CORE spondent. The CORE
spondent adds, however. that the
ranking feeling remains that Holland
has been treated ruthlessly because she
is a small country, and by a party from
which such an action might least be
expected. namely, the United States.
He says that added 20 this is a feeling
of mistrust as to whether the asso-
ciated governments, under stress of
some future necessity of war, may not
suddenly discover that they are obliged
to modify or rescind their undertaking
toward Holland.
I'VE are blamed for delaying the
negotiations under German duress,' y
complains The Hague "Vaderland." :"
This argument loses all force when 1t
is remembered that we can treat
neither the Entente nor the Central
Powers without having to reckon with
both
Most of the newspapers affect TO
regard the promised grain supplies as
much in the air. The "Telegraaf' sees
E sinister portent in Germany's dis
quicting politeness regarding the send
ing out of Dutch ships to fetch the
supplies, while the "Courant' thinks
the best solution of the situation would
be the establishment of some system.
like the Belgian relief system. under
guarantees of safety from both the
belligerents.
But says the "Courant," "they
will probably prefer using our coun-
try as the table on which to play out
their respective trump cards.
Avoids Becoming Accomplice
On the other hand it believes this
solution is the best which under the
circumstances could be attained. There
is no resisting, it says, OF "organized
justice for the small country like ours
when faced by practically half of the
world. Not only have the associated
government removed the last semblance
of right from their iron fist deed and
openly exposed themselves as mlitar-
lists with whom necessity knows nc
moral, or legal law, but we avoid Hol-
an action which cannot bear the light
of day"
STOCKHOLM, March 22-The seizure
OF Dutch tonnage in Allied ports is
strongly criticised in press comments
here.
The Social Demokraten," which i:
friendly to the Allies, says:
"These violent measures, even though
it is true that in the last analysis they
were called forth by brutal German
methods Of warfare and Germany's
threatening attitude, nevertheless are &
gross violation of neutral's right:
and deeply compromise the high ideal:
which the Allies declare inspire then
in their conflict against German mill
tarism."
The "Svenska Dagbladet" refers il
its comment to "the gentleman who ir
the oiden days on the highways and tn,
byways with his finger on the trigge,
used to demand the wayfarer's prop
erty."