The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-05-11
hun THREATS TO
NEUTRALS HOPED
TO |NjURE U. S,
Germany ExetS Pressure on
Netherlands and Spain,


anxiety in Washington
These two incidents have caused a
flutter of excitement in official cir
cles
The Netherlands legation announced
that DR.. August Phillips, the new Dutch
minister will return 10 The Hague at
once on an indefinite leave OF absence
TO recupcratc his health.
The German government according
10 unofficial reports, served an ultima
tum upon Spain TO cancel the trade
agreement recently entered into with
the United States.
The excitement occasioned by the an
nounccment from the Dutch legation
was due in large part to rumorS IN the
last few days that The Netherlands
government was being pressed by Berlin
TO adopt measures OF retaliation against
the United States and England for the
seizure Of Dutch ships aggregatlng
nearly 100000 tons.
II became noised about that Minister
Philips had decided somewhat precip-
itatcly to take his departure and the
first conclusion was that The Hague
government had recalled him as 4
means OF exhibiting resentment at the
act OF the United States. To counterdct
the impression created, the legation is
sued the following statement:
Asks Leave of Absence.
-Dr August Philips, minister Of the
Netherlands, has asked on account Of
his health, for a leave of absence from
his post. His request has been granted,
and he will sail for Holland shortly. w.
II. De Beaufort counselor OF the lcga
tiQn will be charge daifairs ad interim.
"Since leaving Holland, Mr. Phillips
has suffered seriously from insomnia.
His condition is such that he thought
it was best for him to return to Hol-
land in order "a obtain rest and treat
ment"
Minister Philips cmphatically denied
that friction between the United States
and Holland over the seizure OF the
Dutch ships is involved in the reasons
for his unexpected departure. He sald
the strain of his duties during the last
few weeks, when the negotiations over
the requi,itioncd ships were in
progress, was too much for his nervous
system lie expressed the hope that ne
would be able to return to Washington
in a tcw months
Secretary OF State Lansing also has
tened to express the assurance that the
departure of the Dutch minister had no
political significance and that nothing
has occurred to impair the friendly re-
lations Of the United States and llol-
laUd.
Action is Suspicious.
1nasmuch however as the recall CT
a diplomat frequently takes the form of
a departure on leave of absence, the sus
picions that the explanations given out
did not tell the whole story, were not
completely allayed.
Germany was greatly incensed by
the requstioning by the United States
of enough Dutch ships to make ma
terial difference in the number of
troops and amount Of supplies the
American government will be able to
transport to France this year. The
Prussians manifested their anger
chiefly in attempts to ooerce Holland
into the adoption OF a retaliatOry policy
1t was suggested that the Dutch gov
ernment possibly had caused Minister
Philips to leave Washington in an at
tempt to appease the wrath of the Ger
man government
The Dutch ships seized by England
and the United States are now being
put into the allied service as fast as
they can be fitted for sea. Holland.
however has not availed herself so far
of the privilege of sending certain ships
TO America for food supplies which were
guaranteed by the United States this
reluctance being due, il is believed, to
the threatening attitude of Germany.
Huns Threaten Spain.
The anxiety over the Spanish situa-
ton IS due to a threat by Germany TO
inaugurate submarine warfare on Span
iSh shipping unless the recently ncgo-
tiated trade agreement between Madrid
and Washington be abrogated
General Pershng has purchased mil
lions OF dollars worth OF clothing and
other equipment for the American troops
from Spanish factories. Some OF the
supplies had been paid for when it was
discovered that the Spanish government
was blocking deliveries. General Per
sshing sent Major August Belmont. the
New York banker, TO Madrid 10
straighten ont the difficulties, but the
utmost he could do was to initiate nego.
tiations for a reciprocal trade agree
ment. Spain was IN need of various
supplies from the United States and
Major Belmont returned to Washington
recently to lay the proposition OF mu-
tual concessions before the American
government Eventually an agreement
was reached whereby the United States
should release the supplies wanted by
Spain, while Madrid should release the
supplies purchased by General Perish
ing.
Spanish Vessels Delayed.
The agreement has not been consum-
mated principally for the reason that
the war trade board has not released
the Spanish cargoes which have been
held ~ in American ports for several
rnonthA
he board says that II has not com
pleted ITS investigation of the cargoes
concerning the ultimate destination of
which there was some suspicion Conse-
quently Pershing has not received his
supplies from Spain. The German gov
ernment is endesvorine to head off the
equipment Of the American troops from