The Dutch ships in American and British porta, of about
700,000 tons in all, were requisitioned on Wednesday week for the use of the Allies. President Wilson issued a statement justifying this measure on the ground that Holland, in face of German threats, was not free to complete the agreement which she had proposed in January for• chartering her ships to the Allies. America must therefore exercise her indisputable rights without further delay. Lord Robert Cecil in the House on Thursday week explained that the interests of the Dutch shipowners would be safeguarded, and that the Dutch Government could send ships to America for 100,000 tons of wheat. The German Press with impotent anger has denounced the Allies'
action as an outrage on a small neutral, but admits that it will x,unterbalance all the efforts of the U '-boats for several months. The Dutch shipowners, whose ships will be earning good freights instead of lying idle and incurring heavy port dues, have every reason to be satisfied.
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