" In. matters of commerce- the fault of the-Dutch, Is
offering• too
aalriag too much." Canning's rhymes are recalled by the moaning effrontery of the Dutch claim upon us for damage done to two Dutch ships by German submarines. The ships, sailing from French ports with cargoes for the Netherlanda Oversee Mist, were stopped by our patrols and ordered to Kirkwall. for examination. On their way they were torpedoed by enemy submarines ; one was sunk and the other was towed into port by a British trawler. The Dutch Government did not, so far as is-known, make any protest at Berlin against the utterly illegal and inhuman action of the enemy submarines in attacking these neutral vessels with neutral cargoes, but asked us to.pay for the damage, on the ground that we had ordered the ships to pass through the danger zone. Mr. Balfour, in reply, expressed ".considerable surprise," as well he might, at this request, which involved on the part of Holland the assumption that the ` U %boat oampaign is perfectly lawful. He deolined to accept any liability whatever, and reminded the Dutch that the Navy had saved one of their ships, free of charge, but had not had a word of thanks for its services.
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