New-York tribune., 1902-04-21
DUTCH NEUTRALITY.
-,-Yru RANDOM REFLECTIONS UPON IN.
rFRNATIoNAL ARBITRATION-DR.
KUYPERS ADVENTURES
AND BRITISH Toll
FRANCE.
The Hague, April Z.

FRANCE
The Hague, April Z.
r-b. great Peace Congress- which was designed
tv an oversenguine Car means OF grace
..- the regeneration OF militant world, has in
snjred more cynicism than optimism 1t has left
tehind it a complex arbitration machine, which
Sc already rusting from disuse. The diplomatic
,orns ct The Hague is established as a pernna-
vent administrative council for the adjudication
If international disputes and the prevention OF
war The cooperation Of all the governments
ranresented at the Peace Congress has been Sc
cured The lists Of arbitrators have been com
nIeted The prelininaries have been settled after
repeated diplomatic conferences, and various
nonts OF procedure and etiquette have been
arranged. The machine has been set up, and
every cog and wheel has been adjusted and
-eadjusted; but 1t has not been brought into
Use Nothing is lacking except a case which can
ne submitted TO this international court The
wheels do not move. With all this elaborate
mechanism for preserving and regulating the
peace Of the world and for dispensing with arma-
rnents everything goes before. Maritime
nations strengthening their fleets, increasing
their naval expenditures. and acting as though
sea power were the only force IN a practical
world and arbitration nothing but an idle
dream. England and her loyal colonies have
engaged in the costliest war for the defence Of
the empire, and there has been no shrnkage of
military outlay and equipment among the armed
camps Of the Continent The highly organized
council Of arbitration is without case or busi-
ness Of any kind. The force Of old habits pre-
walls, and nations either preparing for war
on an unexarnpled scale fighting their
battles with less scientific precision.
Commentators upon the course of events since
the Peace Congress hardly be expected to
avoid touches of Rabelaisian hunor
The Hague Itself. with its artificial plant for
substituting arbitration for war, has been trans
formed since the Peace Congress from a pacific
stronghold Of neutrals into refuge for con-
tpirators and intriguers. The Dutch when the
congress held had the reputation of being
the best and most consistent neutrals in the
world. A small nation. encornpassed by mill
ta-y powers. Holland has scrupulously refrained
from rneddling in foreign affairs and from TAX
ing an active interest in diplomacy Neutrality
and non-intervention were regarded the
natural safeguards Of colonial empire ranking
next in Importance to that OF Great Britain.
The Dutch had mastered the homely art Of
yainding their own business and remaining on
friendly terms with powerful rivals. Their CAPT
tai was the natural meeting place of an inter
national parliament of peace. The interval since
the close Of the congress has been short, but 1t
has witnessed a complete transformation of ma
verted cautious and disinterested neutrals into
sanatfcal and embittered partisans Of lost
cause. Anti-English feeling has become q pas
sion. Dutch sympathy for the Beers has been
displayed in utter disregard Of the require
snents OF self-interest. Holland has been made
the European base of Boer operations, without
reference to the oldtine prejudice against
ueddlesone activity in foreign affairs The
Beer refugees have taken advantage of neutral
sl.fz Tnnx- hnH
adopted measures for the indefinite prolcngation
of the war have purchased supplies and main
tanned communicate tions with commanders in tie
field and have intrigued TO bring about for
egn intervention. Holland has been the centre |
OF the Boer campaign in Europe and America,
and the Dutch Government has allowed these
conspirators against the British Empire to carry
on their work without interruption or restraint
Neutral obligations have not been openly Vio-
lated, but the Dutch practice Of avoiding for /
egn complications and maintaining friendly re- |
ietions with powerful States has been aban- |
doned.
The recklessness of the Dutch people In pro- |
voking English resentment has been amazing |
in view Of their own isolation and feeble re- !
sources for resisting German aggression the |
absorption OF Holland as one or the 1eoera'ed
lnonarchies and States OF the German Empire Is
one Of the goals of TeutoIic ambition. Napoleon |
III once proposed it TO Prince Bismarck, with |
the annexation OF Belgium TO France as COM |
penseting offset and Holland. with its outlying |
colonial empire would have far exceeded IN |
value Alsace-Lorraine even with the fllllaros |
thrown in Germany has been watching With |
covetous eyes the Orange inheritance and wen |
dering whether 1t could not be brought into the |
domain OF the empire through a lucky marriage 1
or through the failure Of the direct line or roy
descent. There has been menace Of aesres-
sion from Berlin, and there is no inaneoiate
prospect Of the absorption Of HOLLAND, pat IL II |
&c true that the day for small States with I'M
ited resources has passed the inclusion OF lhe |
Dutch seaboard and colonial dependencies with
in the German Empire is one Of the probable |
contingencies Of European history il Inc Gay /
ever come. when the Dutch, like the Beers, " i'll
have 10 fight for national existence with the /
patriotic ardor and energy of their heroic ances-
tors they will need substantial support from |
the strongest of the European naval Powers |
England has been their natural friend and any, |
and they have agreed by common consent curing |
the Boer war to enlbitter ana estrangc her- /
There may come day Of reckoning wnen TIE /
Dutch people will deplore the reckiessness with |
which reprisals have been invited Ihe Old |
tine Dutch policy of impassiye and dissnter- |
ssted neutrality wiser and safer than the |
partisan fanaticism now prevailing in HcilanQ.
The Dutch Prime Minister. DR.. Kuyper. has |
dcne much 20 increase the popular excitement |
naturally caused by the presence OF SO plc'-
uresaue figure a. KRUGER and the machina-
lions Of a swarm of Boer refugees. He is an ex- |
oeedingly able man, with more versatile talents |
than responsible statesmen ordinarily possess. !
He has been a Calrinistic preacher and Jour-
nalist as well as working politician, and ne Is
even credited with having written a comic
opera Possibly he would be safer ana more