Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05

4 cabinet crisis at The Hague Christ
mas day IL the second ministerial trounle
for Holland for the year
Dutch 1907, and comes Of the
er,.,. same cause, namely, dis
agreement over matters
affecting the army. What influence tn.
recent meeting Of an interparliamentary
conference at Brussels to devise means to
effect an Hollando-B Belgian reconciliation.
and the still moro recent visit OF En-
peror William, may have exercised to de-
termipe the present crisis in not clear al
the present moment, It sufhces just now
to submit for the readers appreciation
some passing events. which may enable
him to comprehend the situation.
On the 4th Of November. 1907. follow
Ing a preliminary meeting composed Of
officers Of the Holland and Belgian armies,
who discussed the proposition Of mutual
military system. Hollapdo-Relgtanc COM
mission assembled In Brussels in the
grand hall of the senate. under the presi-
deney Of NJ. Beernaert. to discuss the
economical and political points Of the
proposed reconciliation.
NJ. Beernaert, president of the Belgian
section. recalled In very clever language
the historic presidents which could be
invoked In favor of the reconciliation,
The speaker espoused the advantage Of
Belgium in a common action with inde-
pendent Holland. Hollands Independence
was 1t the same time q precious adj
vantage for the peace Of the world. Bel.
GUM occupied Q position In western Dsi-
rope where important rivers meet and
compound. where powerful races touch
one another. and Belgium could not be
n n n n ha 9TH Of yrnt III
bors without q great displacement Of
force. The density of Belgiuul's popuia-
ton. her riches, Industrial activity. the
extent Of her seashore and Typographical
situation do not require her existence as
an independent nation is of worldwide
importance.
NJ. Heemskerk, president of the Neither
lands delegation, replying to M. Beer
naert. said that the commission, without
pretending to accomplish q political mis-
sion, was only there to prepare the nego.
tiations. Belgians and Hollanders wished
not only to be good nelghbors but also
good friends for there was no longer any
trace Of what took place in 1850. And NJ.
Heemskerk added:
Shall We conclude an economical agree
ment? It Is difficult today. Commercial
policy Is vast problem and we should
undertake. its serious study"
Words these that do not seem to indi-
cate great desire Of this Hollander, at
The impression at The Hague Is that
while an arrangement may be concluded
1t will be attained with difficulty
The Journal des Economistes'' Of No
vember 10. an economical monthly review,
says:
In what consists the reconciliation of
Holland and Belgium. VIII it he exclusively
military. as recommended
pertinent by writer's in favor Of
Questions. such an agreement? As
Stunning that q German
army should invade Holland, would the
six million Belgians oppose sixty million
Germans? What force have they to op-
pose such a torrent? And should French
or German army undertake to violate Bel
gtap neutrality could the meager forces
OF Holland and Belgium combined pre-
vent this violation Of the law of ma
tions? 1t would be better to have recourse
to the moral rules of the laws Of war
edtcted by the congress of The Hague. Is
It question OF an economical agreement?
Nothing. indeed. is better. but the only
means Of reconciling two nations econom-
cially Is to suppress the customs barriers
which separate them. Protectionists on
this point are in accord with free traders,
and on this account they are suspicious!
We PSl$ldu uckc6dtoS, NJ. SdtlOu QG
Wizard and NJ. Paul FREDERICK, proposed
that the word economical be suppressed.
A third. NJ. Vaudeville, socialist, pro-
posed the word social. The agreement
would be militariat and socialist. In our
turn let US bewarer'
Le Temps declares that the reconcilia-
ton will not be accomplished without
difficulty. Although the rancors Of 1890
on both sides have been completely eff
faced, the Hoilander and the Belgian are
liz ~ho~
other that instructive attraction which
facilitates and vivifies political conbina-
ton. The Holland-Belgian entente, IL 1t
is concluded, will be a marriage Of inter-
est, in which the people will understand
nothing.
In France indeed it is not certain that
the majority of the public did not know
Of the risks Of war two years ago. It Is
doubly necessary therefore that the public
shall be made aware Of their common
economical relations In advance Of the
political and military project.
~
In Belgium. where the project is warm
ly approved by those who consider even
tual complications, all the
Belgian elements-and they are
o,r.s;+ior numerous-who are under
German influence are en-
gagged in violent war against it. They
maintain, it is said, that the movement
of a Holland-Belgian entente was in
spired by France and England. and that
1t Is directed against the interests of
Germany. This hostility is so strong that
the F1amands. who are near to the Meth
erland race, are the most obstinate OPP
ponents Of the reconciliation. Besides.
they are told that a Holland Belgian
agreement will cause the establishment
of general and personal military serv-
Ice. Again IN certain Belgian circles it
is said that Belgium in her quality as a
neutral state has no right to conclude a
like treaty, and the adversaries of the
project are quick to add to their OPP
position this judicial scruple.
This opposition, 1t should be said, has
shown by. NJ. Ernest Nys, the eminent
jurisconsult. who has declared that 1t
cannot in any event be applied to the
case Of customs union. the condition of
an economical agreement. M. Nys cites
the case Of Luxembourg, which Is neutral
like Belgium. Luxembourg neyerthe-
less Is part Of the German customs
union Belgium herself negotiated with
France In l340 a customs union plan and
in one of Frances dispatches to the
French minister at Berlin, M. Guizot, re-
futing the argument Of the English gov
eminent, explained in the most absolute
manner that the project was perfectly
legal since It expresseu Belgium's faculty
to withdraw from the union in a stated