Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-21
SECRET BRITISH FIGURES
SHOW net SHIPPING LOSS.
|SMALL; SEIZE DUTCH SHIPS
PRESIDENT TELLS
WHY DUTCH SHIPS
WERE TAKEN OVER

Washington, d. c., March I'll
/ President Wilson has authorized
/ the following statement in regard to
/ the seizure OF Dutch vessels:
For some months the United
/ States and the entente allies have
been conducting negotiations with
the Dutch government with the OBJ
4 JeCt of concluding general COM
meriCal agreement.
"A clear statement of the char
acter Of these negotiations was
made on March u TO the Dutch par
lament by his eXcellenCy, the min
lister of foreign affairs of Holland
As appears from the statement, the
discussion proceeded upon the
basis of two fundamental PROPOSE
tons namely: that the United
States and the allies should facili-
7 tate the importation into Holland
OF fOOdstuffs and other commodi-
ties required to maintain her eco
nomic life, and that Holland should
restore her merchant marine to a
normal condition of activity.
1t was the task of the negotia-
tors to develop a specific applica-
/ ton of these propositions, which
, would be acceptable to the govern
ments. concerned.
Ask a Temporary Plan.
Early in January, 1918, the ne
! gotiators came to an understanding,
which was embodied in a tentative
agreement which was submitted to
/ the governments concerned in or
der that, if acceptable, it might be
ratified, or, if unacceptable, a cOun-
ter proposal might be made
The negotiations becoming pro-
lOnged, the Dutch delegates propos-
ed, in order that their ships might
. sooner be put into remunerative
spTvTrr,s affrat DuTcn tonnage lying
idle in American waters should,
with certain exceptions. be immed-
f lately chartered to the United
! States for periods not exceeding
{ ninety days. This proposal was ac-
/ cepted by the United States govern
ment, and on Jan. 25. 1918, the
Dutch minister at Washington
handed to the secretary of state
of the United States a note express
/ ing the terms of the temporary
( chartering agreement and his gov
/ ernment's acceptance thereof.
Sought To Aid Swiss.
This agreement provided, among
+ other things, that 10000 tons of
Dutch shipping should, at the dis
cretion of the United States, be en-
plOyed partly in the service of Bel
gian relief and partly for Switzer-
land on safe conduct to Cette.
France. and that for each ship sent
bto Holland in the service of Bel
gian relief, a corresponding vessel
should leave Holland for the United
States.
1.-TWO Dutch ships in the United
/ States ports with CargOes of food
stuffs. were to proceed to Holland,
similar tonnage being sent in ex-
change from Holland to the United
States for charter as in the case
of other Dutch ships lying in the
United States ports.
The agreement was explicitly
temporary in character, and. being
designed to meet an immediate sit
uation, prompt performance was of
the essence.
THE Dutch Government at once
disclosed, however. that it was un-
willing or unable to carry out this
Chartering agreement which it had
itself proposed. The first desire of
the United States was to secure at
once shipping. as contemplated by
the agreement to transport to
Switzerland focdStuffs much needed
by the state.
"One difficulty after another
CONTINUED On Page Seven)