A REMARKABLE THREAT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1034, 25 January 1911, Page 7

A REMARKABLE THREAT.

IF HOLLAND FORTIFIES FLUSHING. By Telegraph—Press Association—CopyrieM. Paris, January 23. The newspaper "Figaro" says that in tho event of fortifications being constructed at Flushing, France, Russia; Britain, and Belgium will withdraw from The Haguo Arbitration Court. Writing of the Dutch defence proposals, the Brussels correspondent of - "Tho Times" stated on December 13:—"Tho Dutch Government has published an extract from the secret*report on'maritimo defences, in which it is declared that the system of defence must give complete guarantees for the maintenance of Dutch neutrality. Tho fortification of the coasts being indispensable, tho forts at the Texel will bo modernised, those of tho port of Ymuiden and of the Nicuwo Waterweg will bo comploted, and, finally, the fortifications at Neuzen and Ellewoutsdyk being inadequate for tho defence of tne West-Scheldt, fortifications of tho highest class will bo constructed at Flushing. ."The Government adds that no international complications can arise in consequence of this scheme, as tho existing fortifications of the.Scheldt are to bo abolished when tho new works at Flushing are completed. Tho total cost of tho .scheme is estimated at 38,000,000 florins (about i! 3,100,000), of which 5,242,000 florins are to be expended at Flushing.. "Holland refuses to take into account the hostility of Belgium to the project, which it is thought here, will mean tho 'bottling up' of Antwerp. It is reported that the Belgian Government will reply by creating a military port at Zeebrugge. The present commercial port has failed to give the results which were hoped, and tho construction company aro asking < for a fresh subsidy of 2,000,000f. (£80,000) for works and maintenance."