Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-21

And the Belgian writer makes an excep-
ton of the economical union Of the two
countries. although he
Economical does not believe that such
union can succeed. Frere-
onioA' Orban tried IL and failed
The regimes are different. Industrial Bel
GUM will remain protectionist while agri
cultural Holland will remain free trader
Neve RI heless. certain mutual concessions
may be made Economical conditions may
manifest themselves. and then there is the
attrac tion of colonial expansion. The kon
go may become A factor in the question of
an entente, The kongo. indeed. might
decide Holland to cast her fortunes with
Belgium should the former continue to
hesitate.
The opinion in certain circles at The
Hague is in print like this:
The entente with Belgium is not want
cd in Holland. The Hollander does not
like the Belgian. Is it the memory of
| 1870 that may explain the antipathy? Is
it race or religion? From a military
point of view Holland thinks that Belgium
would gain by her alliance incontestably
more than Holland
Gen. Langlois in his consideration Of
the question from a military point of
view charges that the menace from Ger
| many is indicated by the establishment
| of German camp at Dalhem. near Rure-
monde tHolland). and the numerous in
stalments for an immediate railway sta
| ton with many tracks. storehouses. etc.
indicating point of concentration of the
| first order. It is likewise thus at Rothe
E,rde at With and at Tro:s Vierges
| in Luxembourg. These preparations
| should induce reflection
| NJ. de Koo. one Of the most liberal pub
| licsts of Holland. has published an ar
| ticle in the Amsterdammer entitled: Ger
many and the North Sea Convention" NJ.
de Koo commenced by mocking the min
lister OF foreign affairs. NJ. de Marees Van
| Swinderen. who in announcing to the
chamber the signing of the North sea
convention had all the appearance of a
'Tartarin.''
| NJ. de Koo said: THE agreement was
important. but not for Holland. We ad
NIT voluntarily that Ger
German many sees with pleasure
her name attached to a
Ao'o'oee' work which is ostenta-
| tious." Everything. according to NJ. de
Koo. in the convention is written to the
advantage of Germany. In a war between
Germany and France. and above all in a
war against France and England united.
the two last powers are held to respect
| the neutrality of the Holland coast region.
which could not be prejudicial to Ger
many. The eastern frontier of Holland.
Limbourg, Brabant and other territories
near Germany are not of course included
in the coast regions. The agreement was
| therefore unilateral and entirely in Ger
many's interest.
Such are the 'het koopje' or hollow
nuts said the author. Offered our coun-
| try by Emperor William in order to help
him take the country. for that is the idea
behind the head of the German emperor"
The German journals. the Koelnische
Zeitung. the Vossische Zeitung. the Ber
liner Tageblatt. the National Zeitung. the
Taegliche Rundschau. the Post. conclude
that the North sea convention has dissi-
pated forever in the minds OF her second
class neghbors the suspicious which they
held toward Germany.
What we fear" says the author, ''is
not invasion by Germany. but the at
tempt to reduce us by affected amiability
to state OF dependence upon our neigh
Dor. 1t Is the too hearty embrace: we are
too impetuously pressed upon the Ger
man breast, causing us to think only of
Germany. At present all of the ostenta-
ton over the North sea has the appear
ance Of being part of a method. In all
such things of mere surface let us be
particularly amicable with Holland. In
that way she will venerate us she will
come to us and will unite with us finally
Speculation. all this. but it has had al
ready some success in the attitude OF
Holland journal. which has counseled
the consideration of propositions which
until now had always been repealed. We
do not fear annexation, but. jealous of
our interests we do not close our eyes to
the dangers of seduction to which we
are exposed by our immediate neighbor"
And this is all the more TO be feared.
that Holland. while depending for its
national existence upon France and Eng
land its court and its aristocracy is
something apart from Holland, for court
and aristocracy are German by origin and
sympathy.
| NJ. de Koo refers to French and Eng
lish journals which urge Holland to "a
military convention with
MILITARY Belgium. and cites especial
s,orev ly Gen. Langlois. who af
firmed in the Temps that
this idea was gaining ground in Holland.
mo one in Holland says NJ. de Koo
will fall into this military snare
NJ. de Koo recalls the toast pronounced
by Emperor William at the palais royal
at Amsterdam on the occasion Of his re-
| cent visit to Queen Wilhemina. The
emperor declared. ION his life." that he
had not the slightest evil intention toward
Holland.
Holanders, said NJ. de Koo, except
| those whose employment necessitated an
attitude of generation" were stupefied
at that declaration. So long the pow
ers remained grouped as they are -
France England and Russia on the one
side. Germany on the other-M. de Koo
could not see how any enterprise could
be undertaken hostile to Holland. The
imperial toast seemed TO NJ. de Koo to
convey the idea that Germany might be-
come dangerous to Holland should the
emperor conclude to put the little Hol-
landers in his pocket"
And NJ de koo finds consolation in these
reflections and in the opinions of the
Standard. the Journal des Debats and
others that there is no danger that the
statu quo will be changed in the North
sea or the Baltic
CHI CHAILLE LONG
MIJ77ICC