THE EX-KAISER’S POSITION IN HOLLAND.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 141, 29 May 1920, Page 7

THE EX-KAISER’S POSITION IN HOLLAND.

; CONTROL OF CORRESPONDENCE. ' ; The leading Amsterdam daily, “llan- ’ d-.-lsblail,” has an important leader . seiting out very clearly the attitude of I the Dutch Government in regard to the 1 Kaiser question- A double change, the paper says, has taken place in the posi- ! non of tiie ex-Kaiser. In the first place, ? | there is a modification of fact: the : ! supervision at bis person has become I considerably stricter, and the reason ■ for this lies in the recent events in .Germany. It is true that the Netheri 'amis Government is not called upon !to prevent the German people from I restoring the monarch if they feel so I inclined. But the reason why the supervision has become stricter since the Kapp adventure is that States have a mutual obligation to respect the established order, and may not allow on their own territory preparations for a violent overthrow of the neighbours’ jKilitieal constitution. Such a thing, however, bight happen if tne ex-Kaiser were allowed to be in contact with ; those e’ements who want such an over-

throw to take place. in the-second place there is a modification in the ex-Kaiscr's legal position. If the Kaiser was not- a dangerous alien there was no reason for re.stiicting his freedom. If he was a dangerous alien, the Aliens Act had to be applied to him. This is what has now taken piaee. The Queen lias issued a proclamation by which specific residence is appointed for the Kaiser. This decision is based upon Article Thirteen of the Aliens Act of 1, which enables tin' Queen to appoint a specific residence for aliens who are a danger to the public peace. Js there, the “Hande.sbhid” asks, a contradiction between this and tiie Prime Minister’s declaration that there is no evidence whatever t.iat tl.e ex-Kaiser has participated in i-.:iy political action? Tiie reply is no, because tiie danger to thus, public peace need not result irom the actions of the alien himseif. It may he due to other causes, in this ease the designs of U iiiieim’s political friends. Ocher limitations may, ami undoubtedly will, b<‘ imposed upon the exKalser’s freedom. He has already voluntarily submitted to a certain

amount ot control, notably in regard to his i-oi'iespondence. Jt may be expect-

ed that, whenever the need arises, further restrictions will be imposd.