Holland Ready To Defend Her Neutrality

Northern Advocate, 11 November 1939, Page 7

Holland Ready To Defend Her Neutrality

Public Anxiety Over Possible German Thrust

All Army Leave Cancelled

(Received 12 Noon). LONDON, November 10. THE AMSTERDAM CORRESPONDENT OF THE EXCHANGE TELEGRAPH COMPANY DECLARES THAT HOLLAND STANDS FULLY PREPARED TO DEFEND HER NEUTRALITY. THe authorities' are investigating the frontier clash at Velno, and are certain to lodge a strong protest when German responsibility has been established. \ Despite official assurances, public anxiety is evident over a possible German thrust across Holland. The Dutch banks arc removing their gold behind the flood zone. After a special midnight meeting of the Netherlands Cabinet, it was officially announced that all army leave had been cancelled, says a despatch from The Hague. All soldiers on leave have been ordered to return to their units immediately. The order affects 50,000 men. It was also announced that the Cabinet had decided to take all precautions./

Foreign Minister’s Denials

The Foreign Minister (Mr Kleffens) denied that King .Leopold and Queen Wilhelmina discussed anything but the peace proposal. He regretted their mediation offer had been interpreted abroad as a manoeuvre by Belgium and Holland. “We are experiencing all the difficulties of a belligerent,’’ he said. “None of our ships have voluntarily submitted to contraband control, but the Straits of Calais are so narrow, and the danger from mines so great, that it is impossible to keep out of reach of the British vessels without resorting to violence. “It is untrue that Holland is assisting Britain’s control measures. Ministerial Offices Guarded “I trust nobody will violate our independence. “We do not want to be an instrument in the British measures against Germany, or vice versa.” The Dutch Cabinet sat until 1 a.m. Special guards were posted at the Ministerial offices at The Hague after midnight. The former Premier (Mr. Colijn) announced that 150 air raid shelters had been prepared at The Hague alone. He appealed for 10,000 workers for air raid work. Police Leave Stopped .All police leave has been stopped throughout Holland, says an Amsterdam message. It is reported that the British and United States Consuls are urging their nationals, numbering 1200 and 1000 respectively, to leave the country as the situation is not reassuring. The explosion of a land mins killed a sergeant and three privates, says the British United Press correspondent at Amersfoort.

The Belgian Finance Minister (M. Gutt), disclosed that the Belgian mobilisation from October 1, 1939, to December 31, 1940, will cost £37,500,000.

An internal loan is impossible, and, therefore, the Government is relying on a 70 per cent excess profits tax and an increase in other taxation.