Ships justified German Theory Refuted As Being Contrary to International Laws London, Oct. 24.
A German broadcast announcement, ihat ju future British ships will only be allowed to enter Dutch territorial waters after the surrender of their armament, is described here as un-lue. The entry into Netherlands ports of merchantmen of all nations ited with guns for self-defence, it is pointed ow, is regulated by the Netherlands proclamation of neutrality.
Merchantmen, such as British, it is said, are armed for one purpose only, namely, self-defence against German U-hosts, which sink British and neutral ships.
The wording of the Netherlands proclamation is such that British ships trading to Netherlands ports, ud genuinely armed for self-protec: tion against German ships, will suffer 10 restriction, The claim of the German Gov: ment that arming for self-defence converts a merchant vessel into a warship, is stated not to be in accordance with international law, under which such arming is a normal ind recognized procedure, Germany, t is pointed out, is the only country which denies the right of a merchant-ran to defend herself when attacked by a submarine determined on sinking her.—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.