Salt Lake Telegram | 1918-04-23 | Page 1 | Food Ships Forbidden to Leave Ports

I F FOOD II T LEAVE lAV r RT I I. I H Holland l nd Switzerland Spain and Sweden Are I It Cut t Off From Supplies by Undersea Boats sl 1 I i By United Press YV ASHINGTON HINGTON April 23 3 Wv W vV G German Germau submarines now now are are starving neutral Holland Switzerland l 1 S Spain ain and Sw Sweden arid rid iid agricultural 1 jp spi s 's suj pi r s nations nations' by the United States ar are are not going forward b because because- caus causa a German thre threats e frightened frightened fright fright- en ened d ship owners owners from sending bottoms for forthe the supplies The supplies were promised under various trade agreements this country countr made with the nations named in return for use of ships Holland is badly in need of ot grain Two Dutch ships loaded with grain are in Atlantic ports waiting waiting- to sail They cannot sail until two other Dutch ships leave Dutch ports for this side A third Dutch ship is held in an Argentine Argentine Argen Argen- tine port with grain waiting similar re release re- re lease r Germany has threatened to torpedo Dutch ships leaving leaving- for the United States cable dispatches say Ship owners of only two neutral countries are paring daring to keep their agreement with the United States and andare andare are sending bottoms bottoms' despite German threats These owners are residents of at Norway and Denmark Spain under a recent agreement with the United States was to send her herships herships herships ships to get agricultural and railway supplies Yet very few supplies have gone for forward ard though this country stands ready to grant clearance if it Spain fulfills her obligations by shippIng shipping shipping ship ship- ping supplies overland to Pershing Regular departure of ships loaded with grain for a Mediterranean port and consigned to Switzerland is held up pending pending- the granting of safe conduct conduct conduct con con- duct by Germany Exchange of supplies with Sweden also is being being- held up because ships are not leaving leaving- when supplies go forward from the United States Last week three ships were released with phosphate rode rock and nitrate for Sweden with the l hope oPe Sweden would later start bottoms for this country No Nomore Nomore Nomore more clearances will b be permitted however until a corresponding corresponding- number number number num num- ber of bottoms leave for tor the United States The American government is striving striving- for some some arrangement whereby the Dutch can have more supplies Whether be made Is er an arr arrangement can problematical but officials manifest a a. desire to treat Holl Holland nd no not only fairly but liberally in the situation This is ib significant from tho the fact that Holland now finds her herself lt jn In trouble with Germany over an old dispute and the tone of reports here Indicate that break between the two countries is dangerously near Holland has a sturdy army but it is doubtful she could withstand the force that Germany might uso use to overrun her Holland complains that the allies have failed to aid her in strengthening strengthening- that army and it Is to meet that complaint that the state department and war trade board arc are seeking to amplify the tho sup sup- plies