The Tomahawk., 1918-03-28
SEVENTY-SEVEN VESSELS IN
AMERICAN WATER REQUlSi-
TONED DESPITE PROTEST.
GERMAN THREATS EFFECTIVE
Were Cause Of Hollands Refusal to
Put Into Effect Her Agreement
to Restore Ships To Normal
Service.


lands refusal in the face of German
threats to put into effect her volun-
tary agreement for restoring her
merchant marine to normal activity,
the United States government has
requisitioned all Dutch ships In
American waters. United States
naval guards went on board the ships
Immediately. At the same time Great
Britain was taking over Dutch YES"
sells in British ports.
A total of II ships of probably 6OO.-
900 tons was added to the American
merchant marine by the requisition-
ing Another 400, 900 tons are put into
the Allied service by Great Britain's
action. Most of them will be used IN
the food carrying trade between the
United States and Europe.
President Wilson's proclamation
taking over the ships was issued only
after word finally came from London
that Hollands delayed reply was a
rejection of the British-American de-
mand.
Guarantee Made to Holland.
The government had waited more
than 48 hours beyond the time when
Holland had been requested to make
| a decision as to whether she would
carry out the original pact or submit
| to requisitioning. Every effort was
made to avoid drastic acton, as trans
fer by agreement was sought. rather
than by seizure. although the latter Is
an exercise of sovereign rights just1-
fled in international law and practiced
by all nations.
Although the ships had been taken
over without any formal agreement
the United States proposes to carry
out scrupulously the terms Of the or
iginal pact, 80 that Holland shall re-
ceive ample foodstuffs and will be pro.
tected i'm her colonial trade by having
sufficient tonnage to maintain its
commerce.
The Presidents proclamation was
Issued, authorizing the navy to take
over the vessels, which will be
equipped and operated by the Navy
department and the Shipping board,
the Dutch crews being supplemented
by American civilian sailors and naval
reservists. Compensation will be
made to the owners, as required by
law.
President Makes Statement.
In a statement outlining the nego-
tiations which preceded the requisi-
tioning, President Wilson pointed out
that the permanent agreement with
| the Dutch government had been
blocked by Germany, despite the lit-
tie Kingdoms acute need of food
stuffs, for which the agreement pro-
vided. A temporary agreement then
was negotiated to tide over the
emergency and that too, was held up
by Prussian diplomacy.
"Although the reason never was
formally expressed" the President
said, 1T was generally known that
the Dutch shipowners feared lest
their ships would be destroyed by
German submarines. That this fear
was not wholly unjustified has unhap-
PLY been shown by the recent act of
the German government in sinking
the Spanish ship Sardinero outside
the danger zone. when carrying a
cargo of grain for Switzerland, and
after the submarine commander had
ascertained this fact by an inspection
of the ships papers,"
For two months the proposed agree
ments lay in diplomatic pigeon holes
without action and meanwhile, the
President says: -
German threats have grown more
violent" The final proposal to Hol-
land was transmitted on March and
set last Monday as the time by which
a reply was wished. Failing, to receive
a favorable reply, the United States
proceeded to reanisition the ships az