THE DUTCH CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 192, 3 May 1918, Page 5

THE DUTCH CRISIS

BRITISH PRESSURE ON THE SHIPPING ISSUE A CANDID NOTE London, May 1 Officml.-Tho Brilisk reply to tho i\etlierlund Government's Noto concerning tho requisition of shipping in Alliod ports regrets that the allegations published in tho. Netherlands are calculated to raise a misconception iegnrding tho negotiations preceding the agreement, winch, however, Holland failed to ratify. Tho reply attributes the breakdown to German inilucnci', and adds that a subsequent effort to arrive at a mutual arrangement was nullified by the objection ofi the Netherlands Government to tho employment of ships for military purnosDs or their being armed, thereupon tho requisition, which had already boon mooted to tho Dutch delegates, became inevitable; otherwise the Central Powers would achieve tho very object which they desired in rendering the Dutch tonnage immobile. The British assurance; regarding the conditions -under which tho ships are requisitioned are now clearly restated and reaffirmed. They embrace no substantial departure from'the agreement originally proposed to i-xlend tho facilities to the _ United States. Britain is perfectly willing to continue negotiations for an economic agreement.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Bouter. THE REAL TROUBLE USE OF TUB LBIBURG- KAILWAY. ' (Kcc. May 2, 73 p.m.) Amsterdam, May 1. It is untrue to statu that Holland lias yielded to the German demands, though I Iho sand and' gravel question rrobably has been settled in Germany's favour. Tho situation is still serious, particularly regarding the use of the Limburg railway for tho purpose of relieving tho pressure on the Belgian railways. High military authorities claim that only tho difiicu'ltios of transport of men and material prevented Germany from reaping tho fall advantages of her initial success on Iho Sonune—Aus.-'N.Z. Cablo Assn.