Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, MARCH 23rd 1918. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, MARCH 23rd 1918. THE WEEK.

Trrp, question over the seizure of Holland’s shipping is one of the most interesting international episodes of the war. The Press of Christchurch refers to the matter at some length, and its explanation of the intricate subject is worth reproducing because of the general information supplied. The paper «ays that the Dutch are living well up to the reputation for selfishness that very long ago inspired the famous couplet struck off by a British Minister ; they still give too little and ask far too much. The British and -Vmencan Governments after a long and harrassing experience, of the ways of Holland and other neutrals, and an unexampled display of helpfulness and friendly forbearance, recently decided to take over the Dutch Shipping in ttaeir ports, on terms guaranteeing

the Dutch owners against any loss. The right of seizure is undoubted; as Hall puts it, “the person, and property “of neutral individuals in a belligerent “State is in principle subjected to such “exceptional taxation and seizure for “the use of the State os the existence of “hostilities may render necessary/’ In the war of 1870-1871, the Germans exer cisod this right of “angary” on more than one occasion. Some English vessels, for instance, were seized at Rouen by the Germans and sunk in the Seine in order to hamper the French gunboats. The Germans first, sought to make an agreement with the captains and on meeting with refusal they sank the vessels by gunfire.

Tjie English Government did not disj putc the rights of the Germans to act ! in a, general sense in the manner which they adopted, and confined itself to a demand that the owners of The property destroyed should be paid componsat,ion, which Count Bismarck'had already admitted was due. Bismarck had claimed that the Gorman procedure, ( “however exceptional in its nature, “did not. overstep the bounds of international warlike usage.” Tn taking over the Dutch vessels, Britain and America .’have undertaken to supply Holland with foodstuffs sufficient for its needs. Holland was offered an agreement on this basis in January, but under German pressure the Netherlands Government refused to sign the contract, preferring to appear before her truculent neighbour as the helpless victim of force majeure. The pro-Ger- , man elements in the Netherlands are loudly proclaiming that the Entente is oppressing a small nation. Through. j out the war Holland’s neutrality has been more favourable to Germany than to the Entente and if Holland claims that she cannot help the nature of the I case, the Entente has every right to say | that it will not continue to show conj sideration to a neutral that continues to jdo the Entente a disservice in return. , Holland’s interpretation of its rights as a neutral has been one to which . Britain could not agree. , The climax was reached some months ago in connexion with the damage done to two Dutch vessels by a German submarine. The circumstances were 1 set out in a White paper issued in Jan- : luary. Two Dutch Ships wetre pro- ! ceeding from a French port to Rotterdam, and were stopped and sent in ,to Kirkwall for examination. On the 1 way they were attacked by submarines and one of these was sunk. The other j was beached at Kirkwall. The Dutch J Government claimed that the Habib' l of Germany did not free England and it asked for damages. Mr Balfour, in a caustic reply, observed that the British Government might reasonably have expected a Dutch protest to Germany and also some acknowledgment of the British navy in saving one of the ships. , “The situation is that, in the opinion “of the Netherlands Government, his “Majesty’s Government, are to he held responsible because, while they were “pdrfoihning the perfectly legitimate “act of sending a neutral vessel into “port for examination, an act was “committed by their enemies for which “no justification whatever is possible, “and the German Government are ap•‘parently to be held blameless.”

In the course of further remarks Mr. Balfour referred to the neglect of the neutrals to do their obvious duty by taking steps to resist the illegal German “blockade,’’ asd reminded the Netherlands Government that the British Government, “at some incon“venience to them selvas, made arrangements whereby neutral vessels “whose owners are prepared to accept “reasonable conditions may be examined at certain points outside the dan“ger «onc.” When these* and other points are considered, one cannot wonder that Mr. Balfour, in conclusion, permitted himself some exceedingly sharp comment. When every allowance is made for the difficulty of Holland’s position, there can be no excuse for the Dutch refusal to make any return for the humanity, and consideration of Britain. Instead, Holland, feel ing certain that it could obtain v no redress from the criminal who sank the ships, sought to impose upon the good nature of Britain, hoping that as Britain was such a fool as to behave with decency to neutrals under grave provocation, she might he such a fool as to pay Germany’s bill. Th e neutrals. have not come well out of this war, and this is not surprising, for had they been governed by high principles, they would not have remained neutral.

The truth about the submarine losses is not too unpalatable after all. The instance shows again that it is good to make the truth public and let the people know exactly how the fortunes of the nation stand. The submarine loss es are equal to twenty per cent, of tie British tonnage, and this rate of ruthless destruction is being maintained even now. Nominally a decrease car. hardly be expected for the winter has passed, and the days are lengthening, giving the submarines pjretfter (period for daily operation. But, withal, the British Controller of shipping is hopeful for the future. The construction is being speeded up, and Britain is performing wonders in making good the tremendous drain. The main question appears to 'be how long this strain on men and material can he kept up. There are two sides to the question, though for the effect on the enemy operations must also be telling on men and material. With building increasing and the sinking of submarines increasing, as there is reason to believe, the Controller’s hopes are being justified. For September and December quarters the number of submarines sunk were more than double in number than those lost a year before. If this increase oan be maintained, the strain and drain on the enemy will be as telling in one direction as it is in another on Britain. This is the only phase of the naval war at all disquieting, for the rest the naval supremacy of the Allies is distinctly superior .as witness the complete command of the surface of the sea possesod hv the Allies.

The desire for a lasting peace is given further expression to this week, by the Formation in the House of Commons of n parliamentary group favourable to a League of Nations. The House of Lords went further and discussed the project. The Entente Allies have made it plain all along that following a settle-

ment of tho war, some authority is to be created to enforce peace on the world , and this decision has boon generally approved. Just why the matter has come up for special discussion now is not clear, unless pacifists are at work trying to indicate a way to speedily end the war. Tt is noticeable that Lord Lansdowne was one of tho principal speakers. lie has been pointing the way to peace for some time, but at the sacrifice of t 1" ideals for which Britain entered the war! He regards a League of Nations as the only permanent relief from war; but it is manifest such a League to be potent must have force behind. Tt requires something less academic and more militant than The Hague Tribunal to control the differences of nations. The judicial force is all very well up to a certain point, hut there must he the iron hand of authority behind it, or its mandates will be unrespeeted. The policing of the world is a very largo question, hardly to be decided off hand by a mere debate. The details, involving the safeguards will create the difficulties, but time will overcome those if the chief Powers are amenable to meeting the'situation reasonably.