Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury

- ZZ6-
pennitted. In August 1917, the Dutch embargoed the German traffic until March 1918, as
Germany had already exceeded its quota for the year. 165 However, Gennany placed intense
pressure on the Dutch to let another 370,000 tonnes through in September 1917. The Allies
were furious and threatened to close off Dutch access to its telegraph cable, the major
communication network linking the Netherlands to the world. 166
The Dutch faced a difficult choice: either to refuse the agreed quota with Germany
(and the possible consequences thereof) or to face isolation. In the end, the government
decided to let 370,000 tonnes of Gennan sand and gravel through, and then closed its
borders until March 1918. 167 It asked Gennany twice ifit could send officials into Belgium
to check on the destination of the materials. Both times, Germany either ignored or rejected
the request. 168 True to its word, Britain closed its telegraph lines to the Dutch for four
months, disrupting their commercial dealings and diplomatic communications. The cable
embargo also caused a complete cessation of contact with the East and West Indian
colonies. Britain re-opened the telegraph network on 7 February 1918, in an attempt to
resolve the situation and establish a workable agreement between the Netherlands,
Gennany and itself. 169
A day after Britain lifted the restrictions on telegraph use, the Dutch threatened
Gennany with an indefinite suspension of sand and gravel transit, unless it allowed Dutch
experts to investigate the ultimate destination of the cargo. 170 Again Gennany refused. 171
As we have already discussed, on 20 March, Great Britain and the United States
exacerbated an already tense situation by requisitioning Dutch ships in their ports. Gennany
seized the opportunity to reap advantage from the vulnerable position in which the Allied
angary had placed the Dutch.
On 21 March, Gennany signalled that it wanted unhindered transit to Belgium for
military materials and troops. 172 Ten days later, it issued official compensatory demands.
The Dutch had to open the country to all manner of transit trade, including unlimited access
to the Rhine. They had to allow passage through the Schelde for the 36 Gennan merchant
165 Porter, "Dutch Neutrality" p. 217.
166 Smit, Nederland in de Eerste Wereldoorlog. Derde deel p. 45.
167 Commander-in-Chief to Control-Officer at Lobith, 11 September 1917, in ARA, "Archief van de Chef van de
Marinestafte 's-Gravenhage 1886 -1942" entry number 2.12.18, inventory number 197.
168 Porter, "Dutch Neutrality" p. 219.
169 Smit, Nederland in de Eerste Wereldoorlog. Derde deel p. 45; Porter, "Dutch Neutrality" p. 219.
170 Porter, "Dutch Neutrality" p. 219.
171 Ibid.
172 Smit, Nederland in de Eerste Wereldoorlog. Derde deel p. 77.