Dutch envoy recalled in Peking retaliation

Dutch Ambassador Jan Kneppelhout left for home Thursday after being recalled at China's request in retaliation for the proposed sale of two submarines by a Rotterdam firm to Taiwan. The Peking government announced on Feb. 27 it was recalling its ambassador from The Hague and also proposed that negotiations be held as soon as possible to downgrade diplomatic relations between the two countries to the level of charg e d'affaires.