STILL SOVEREIGN STATE

Southland Times, Issue 24127, 16 May 1940, Page 7

STILL SOVEREIGN STATE

MESSAGE BY DUTCH QUEEN

NO SURRENDER OF OUTER TERRITORY

(British Official Wireless) RUGBY, May 14,

Queen Wilhelmina has issued a proclamation from London to the Netherlands people: ,; Once it had become certain that we and our Ministers could not continue freely to exercise supreme authority in the Netherlands a hard but necessary decision had to be taken to transfer abroad the seat of government for as long as is unavoidable and with the intention to re-establish themselves at once in the Netherlands as soon as this could appear at all practicable. “The Government is now in England. It is not prepared as a government to capitulate. Consequently, the Netherlands territory remaining in our hands in Europe as well as the East and West Indies continues to be a sovereign State able to assert its place as a full member of the Community of States and, in particular, in the joint deliberations of the Allied military authorities. In the last resort the Com-mander-in-Chief of the sea and land force will now have to decide what measures it will be necessary to take from a military point of view in those parts of the country where Germany has now established domination. The local civil authorities should continue to do all they can in the interest of the population and in the. first place to help in the maintenance of order.

“Our heart goes out towards our compatriots who in our beloved country will have to pass through hard times.

“In due course, however, with God’s help, the Netherlands will regain its European territory. Remember the calamities which have occurred in past centuries and the repeated resurrection of our country. That will take place again. Do not despair. Let all do what it is possible for them to do in the interest of the country. We are doing all we can.

“Long live the Netherlands!”