DUTCH NAZI FOR TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 130, 29 November 1945, Page 7

DUTCH NAZI FOR TRIAL

THE HAGUE, November 23

Anton Mussert, aged 52. former leader of the Dutch Nazis, whose trial for treason began today, told the special Court that he intended to call as a witness Seyss-Inquart, former German Governor of Holland, who is now on trial at Nuremberg. Mussert pleaded not guilty to the charge which was divided under three headings: That between May, 1940, and May, 1945, he tried to bring the Netherlands under foreign rule; that he telegraphed Hitler in September, 1940, "placing the well-being of the Netherlands in his hands." and subsequently took an oath of loyalty to Hitler; that he carried out propaganda for a union with "the Germanic peoples." Mussert said he proposed to Hitler the formation of a League of German Peoples, which would include the Netherlands. He claimed he did this in the hope of safeguarding Dutch independence from Germany and safeguarding Europe from Bolshevism. Mussert declared he had been assured that Hitler, after the war, would resign as Chancellor of the Reich and German Fuhrer to become Fuhrer of the Germanic Peoples, a title which would have included Germany. Holland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. These peoples would have had a common armed force and economic programme.

The American military authorities have requested the Governor of Fiji to send a Fijian Docks Company to the Solomon Islands, with a minimum of 200 men. Recruiting is in progress, and it is probable that 300 will go.