The Press WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1944 Dutch Partisans And The Government

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24445, 20 December 1944, Page 4

The Press WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1944 Dutch Partisans And The Government

The Dutch Government’s plans to restore constitutional authority in the Netherlands are now under test. According to Reuter’s correspondent in Holland, the Dutch military authorities have issued an order vesting the rights of arrest and internment within the freed areas exclusively in the official police; and this, the correspondent says, is actually a move to disarm the underground forces. In France the resistance movement surrendered its arms only after some ominous rumblings. In Belgium the threat of Allied intervention was necessary; and in Greece intervention itself has still to achieve its purpose. But there is little reason to suppose that the familiar pattern of conflict between resistance and authority will be traced in Holland. It is encouraging, for example, that the Government’s plans to administer liberated territory have been approved by the two prominent left-wing underground newspapers, “Het Parool ” imd “Vrij Nederland”, and that the programmes for reconstruction' drawn up by these newspapers call for “uncon- “ ditional submission ” to the authority of the returning Cabinet. The hope is further sustained by Dr. Gerbrandy’s assurance this month that his Government will resign as soon as Holland is freed, and by his enlightened recognition that peopl? who have been under occupation have the right to claim that one of their men should be Prime Minister. There must be a new Govern-, ment, in tune with the temper of the people. The resistance .movement must have a sdy in the formation of this new Parliament. . . . Since our last election the whole spirit and mind of the population, has changed. The method of choosing the new Parliament, however, is still in dispute. Seven months ago, according to a Netherlands correspondent of “The Times”, the most important sections of the resistance movement had achieved a large measure of agreement on the means to establish a Parliament to function until new elections can be held—a period which Dr. Gerbrandy says may continue for a year and a half to two years. But, as Dr. Gerbrandy also said this month, this interim Parliament will be chosen “by “ means not yet devised ”. The failure to agree here may be thought, however, of no great moment. As yet, the period for negotiation is not urgently short. The Dutch temper, too, is habitually steady, and the nation has behind it a tradition of great political .stability. Moreover, it has another tradition which will serve it well. The monarchy has come through the war with its prestige undiminished and even enhanced. If failure to agree on the means to establish representative government should threaten to hamper Holland’s reconstruction, a major responsibility will then rest with the Queen. As •head of the; House of Orange Queen Wilhelmina 'enjoys the confidence of Left and Right; and the part she took in inviting the resistance leaders to support the Government’s plans to tide over. the immediate period of liberation is the surest guarantee that the new Government and" the new States General will be attuned to the temper of the people. It is Holland’s good fortune that even the Germans speak wryly of “Orange Communists”.