The Dominion. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1917. GERMANY AND HOLLAND

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3014, 27 February 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1917. GERMANY AND HOLLAND

■—* ■ J The attitude of Germany towards i Holland would seem to' bo deliber- < ately provocative, Recently -we i heard a great'deal about the mass- ! ing of German troops on tho bord- . era of, Holland,. which'appeared to . suggest suspicion that Holland j might be found on the side of the • Entente Powers; or it mav have 1 been merely an attempt to iiitimi- i date Quef,s Wilhelmina and her i Government in view of coming < events.. Now wo have the sinking of : a number of Dutch steamers by a . German submarine under circumstances which indicate an utter disregard for the undertaking proviously given in respect of these vessels, and a, supremo contempt for the Dutch national sentiment or Dutch protests"." Does Germany want to force Holland into war, or is it merely a part of her plan of terrorising the smaller neutral nations into submission to her wishes ? Germany, of course, has always attached the greatest importance to tho use of Dutch and Belgian territory as a means of striking at England. Bismarck may be said to have commenced Prussia's plotting against the integrity of both Belgium and Holland. His was a system of scarcely concealed hostility, and of waiting for a favourable opportunity to interfere Holland was particularly 'desired by Bismarck for its own sake, and, still more, for the sake of the Dutch colonies. Holland's oversea possessions, like those of Great Britain, are vastly out of proportion to tho mother country, a circumstance which for generations has aroused,/ the greed and the envy of tho Prussian nation. Lord MoßLEyin his Life of Gladstone records that Bismarck was threatening Belgium some years before the outbreak of the FrancoGerman war. There were rumours abroad then of possible aggression, and the Belgian Press, being particularly outspoken, the Iron Chan-, cellor let fall the ominous observation that, if, Belgium persisted in that course, "she might pay dear for it." Belgium, according to Bismarck, had no right to warn her people of coming dangers, especially when Prussia threatened to be the aggressor. "The , Dutch Minister told the British Ambassador in Vienna," writes Lord Morley, "that in 1865 he had a long conversation ' with Bismarck, , and Bismarck had given him to understand that without colonies Prussia could never become a great maritime nation ; he coveted Holland less for its own sake than for her wealthy colonies. When reminded that Belgium was guaranteed by the Euro-"' pean Powers, Bismaror replied that 'a guarantee was in these days of little value.' This remark makes an excellent register of the diplomatic temperature of the hour." Lord Morley, in the last sentence quoted, erred sadly in the direction of over-comprehensiveness. Bismarck's words were an excellent register, not of the diplomatic temperature of the hour, but of the diplomatic perfldiousness of Prussia. BigMARCK, ruthless and unscrupulous though ho was, remained always sufficiently sane to avoid a, rupture- with Great Britain. Hβ saw, as Dr. Holland Rose, that eminent historian of modern times, says, tbe impossibility of safeguarding the national unity won by the sword; and also of embarking on world-wide schemes which might conflict with the interests a of Russia and Great Britain. He discouraged the adoption of a dual policy such I as had wrecked Spain under Philip 11, and France under Louis XIV and Napoleon I. But the notion that Germany, having welded her Empire by war, could indefinitely expand it, fired the imagination of the Kaiser, of his counsellors, and finally of his people. Had Wiliielm and his advisers been less afflicted with proud disdain of cthw nations, and more • careful f.o study i the fixed policy of Great Britain, j Belgium would nover have been in- j vaded, and Holland would never i have been menactd by Germany. | The policy of safeguarding their own shores, apart from long-exist-ing treaties, explains the importance attached to tbe independence j of Belgium and of Holland by all; British statesmen. England has j fought many battles on land aiul on j sea to prevent the acquisition of these countries by either Franco or Spain. It was their retention by Napoleon in 18H that prolonged that year's hostilities, and Napoleon's first efforts in tho follow- j ing year, it will be remembered, were directed to the securing of Brussels and of Antwerp. Napoleon's obicct a hundred years ago was precisely the object of the Kaiser when ho launched tho present war. Great Britain's enemies on tho Continent never fail to cast envious eyes upou tho long coast lino ! of the Netherlands. That linn affords -the very best , of facilities, either for harbouring hostile naval [ craft, or as tho stiirtiug-poini. for transports carrying troops for tho 'I long-threatened invasion of the. BrU

fcish Isles. Napcwhv frequently declared Uiat (> fivmly established on the coast. "j{ the Netherlands, ho oould ib)j England to the heart. The 'famous Barrier Treaties, the first of which was elgned by Great Britain in ITOfl, had for their object the Ooili.rol of tho barrio , fortresses by the Netherlands. These great fortresses were meant to prevent the invasion of the country by Franco, a danger which in. these days, happily, no longer exists. Holland has had timely warning of her fate, should Germany succeed in overrunning her territory as sha succeeded in overrunning that of Belgium. At the present moment thsro is a capable, well equipped Dutch force ready for emergencies, probably about 400,000 or even 600,000 strong. A year ago the Dutch army numbered something under 1100,000; but since then, tho results of laws which had been introduced by that time, will have been manifested. • The Government at Tho Hague apparently placed little rolianco upon Germany's declarations, and energetic work has characterised the military preparations to guard against tho country being taken quite unawares. Heavy war expenditure has been voted, class after class has been called to the colours to be trained, the strategic lines of defence have been strengthened, and miles of trenches have wen dug, "not altogthcr for practice work," remarks MR. .D. T. Cumin, an American correspondent. What the immediate future of Holland may bo cannot as yet be conjectured. The Kaiser and his war lords, in their extremity, and in their insensate wrath, may at any time cross" the border, should they imagine that Holland contemplates joining the Allies. Holland's policy at tho moment is one of neutrality, and, for her, it is the one safe policy until she is assured of the assistance of the Allies. But should that assistance-be forthcoming tlioro are many reasons for believing that Holland may, when tho propor and • fitting time arrives, assist willingly in the final overwhelming of the Prussians. There can bo no questioning of Holland having decided in favour of the Allies. "Holland," declares one Amsterdani newspaper, • "has the greatest interest in the victory of che Allies, which will make an end to the military despotism of Prussia." It is not surprising that a strong, widespread belief should exist that Holland, before the final stages of the war are reached, is likely to receive some of tho ' millions of Homo and Oversea soldiers who havo completed their training; and are now waiting in England. With their base in Holland, British forces could perform the/final task of sweeping Belgium clear of the hated enemy, or they could from Holland strike at the very heart of the enemy in his own territory.