THE DUTCH.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3279, 29 June 1917, Page 1

THE DUTCH.

ARMED VESSELS BAERED. HOLLAND PERSISTS IN A HOSTILE POLICY. f Amsterdam. Jno Dutcli■ Govcrmcait, in its reply to the British Government on the subject of armed merchantmen, adheres to its decision that the latter will not be allowed to enter Dutcli ports. What steps, if any, the British Government will now take in the matter is not known. In the meantime, however, Britain has agreed to release the Dutch grain vessels which have been at Halifax and to allow- them to return hoznc without calling at a British port. The question arose with regard to the British steamer Princess Melita, which was prohibited from entering Dutch waters because she was armed. In reply to a British protest, " Dr. Loudon, the Dutch Foreign Minister, declared that to admit thie vessel would be a breach of neutrality. Dr. Loudon, it will be noted, fails to observe any distinction between a warship and a merchant vessel simply armed for self-defence.