New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-18
ILLUSTRATED Bits

likely to prove the most easy of acquisition
and as offering the greatest prospects of wealth
IN fact, Holland has experienced so much diff
Guilty in keeping the natives under control in
her East Indies that il is doubtful whether
she would be able to offer any serious resistance
to the japanese, particularly if the latter were
to invoke the sympathy of the population Of the
islands by their watChWord of Asia for the
Asiatics," OF course. in such a predicament
Holland would turn for assistance to GERMANY
which would be readily accorded. with the re-
suit, however, Of bringing not merely the Dutch
colonies but Holland herself within the sphere
OF the German Empire at the cost Of her indie
pendence, and-so the Dutch beIieve-at tho
sacrlflce OF their commercial and industrial
prosperity In fact, the Netherlands are be-
tween the devil and the deep sea in so far as
their colonies are concerned, with Japan as an
inevitable menace on the one hand and with
Germany as an equally grave peril on the other
Under the circumstances it is not surprising
that many Of the more thoughtful of the sub
jects of Queen WiIhelmina who have a care. not
merely for the present but also for the future
OF their country should consider the policy of
selling their colonies for large sum while these
dependencies are still theirs 10 sell
Java, Sumatra. and the other Dutch posses
sicns in the Far East and in New-Guinea. COW
ering altogether an area of nearly a million
square miles, are therefore likely ere long to
come into the market and forming. as they
co, "a very desirable piece Of property, cannot
fail to become the subject not only of fierce com
Ieuuon, but possibly of international compIi-
cation Under other circumstances Germany
might have been content to bide her time and
to wait until Holland would be COMPELLED by
some foreign pariI in Europe, Asia or even in
South America, to place herself of her own ae-
cord under the protection of the German En-
pire, and thereby become one of the federal
states Of the latter. But should Great Britain
France, the United States. or even Japan. show
any disposition TO take advantage of the wish
Of the Dutch to dispose of their colonies. Ger
many. which looks upon the Dutch East and
West Indies as well as Dutch Guiana. as des-
tined to come under her flag, would certainly
have something to say. and would assuredly
endeavor to prevent thrse dependencies from
passing into anv other hands than her own.
From this it will be seen that Hollands colonies
are likely to become ere long an important issue
in international politics and from now on the
various great powers may be depended or -
keep a watchfuI eye upon The Hague, in order
to prevent the government OF the Netherlands
from springfug any coup" upon them 10y sud-
den announcement Of the sale of their colonies,
either direct 10 some foreign nation or possibly
through some third party, acting as the honest
broker. say, for Instance, King Leopold.
Holland has before her eyes the example of
Spain. The Iatter's prosperity has revived &c
the most amazing extent since she lost her
colonies and was relieved of the drain which
their retention imposed upon her national re-
sources But Spain would have been infinitely
better off and would have spared herself much
needless humiliation, had she accepted any of
the repeated offers OF immense sums that were
made to her for the purchase of the Antilles,
notably in 1915 and again not long before the
war of 1905. Pride stood in the way of any
such arrangement. The Dutch, while equally