New-York tribune., 1908-04-30
THE DUTCH .THRONE.

DiScuSSiOn over the succession to the throne
Of the Netherlands continues in the European
press. and also among political leaders in Hol-
land itself This is not unnatural for the ques-
ton is of the highest Importance TO Holland and
of great interest to the world at large. Pri-
marily il is the question of the succession 70 the
throne of the Netherlands. Secondarily, but
pretty directly it is the question Of the coli
finupd Independence of Holland or of its in
CORPORATION into the German Empire. The
famous old House of Orange is now painfully
near extinction. There remains of it IN the
direct line only Queen Wilhelmina. though 1t
would he premature to despair Of her providing
ar heir to the throne In the lack of an heir,
according to the constitution, a successor to the
throne is to be chosen by the sovereign and a
special Joint convention Of the two houses of
Parliament each containing for the purpose
twice the usual number of members or by that
extraordinary assembly alone if the selection is
not made until after the sOyereign's death.
No choice has vet been made. and It is easy
to understand how reluctant the Queen is to
make it or TO participate in making it The
statesmen and people of Holland are much
divided in opinion concerning it. Some are de
sirous that the selection shall be made at once,
sine ira, instead of being postponed tc a time
when emergency may beget passion. Others
for various reasons counsel pOsponement.
Again, there are many who would choose some
prince or nobleman 10 become king while there
are others. such as DR.. van H0uten. the Liberal
leader. who would re-establiSh the republic
under Stakeholder. There are also those who
would so alter the fundamental law to let the
Queen herself, and alone, designate her sue
cessor. as is done i'll Rumania. OF course. there
are diverSitieS of opinion to the personality
of the prince who shall be chosen. Some would
turn to a German prince, and others toward
any one who is not German.
That the German Emperor and his govern
ment would be pleased at the advent of Ger
man prince is unquestionahle and it may be
suspected that they would not be averse to
exercising all proper influence to that end In
deed, there is little doubt that they would well
come the incorporation OF the Netherlands into
the empire, toward which the succession of IL
German prince king would be ali important
and perhaps decisive step. The North Sea con
vention. which has just been concluded at Ber-
lin by Germany and the other powers fronting
on the German Ocean provides for the present
maintenance OF the status qHO. and Germany s
entire good faith in that engagement is not to
be doubted. Yet the logic of events is often
stronger than treaties. intentions or desires If
a German prince should ascend the Dutch
throne and the Dutch government should make
overtureS for admission into the empire II is
not supposable that the door would be closed
OF course, the commercial and strategic value
of Holland to Germany would be incalcuiable
making the Rhine purely German TO the sea
and giving TO the empire dominant frontage
upon the German Ocean, with n multiplicity
of fine harbors. The acquisition Of that frontage
and those harbors. so close to the British Isles
would be Il matter Of great concern to Eng
land. But that is not all. With the crown Of
Holland would 20 the Dutch colonial empire
which is of vast extent and great value hav-
ing an area Of $4,000 square miles and n
population of more than thiry-six millions. 1t
would mean much 10 British India 10 Austria
liza. TO the French Indian empire, To China and
Japan. and To all powers Interested in the Far
East to have lava, Sumatra, Borneo Cclebes
the Moluccas and New Guinea all under the
German flag. Also, ii would be Il matter OF great
moment TO the United States and to all the
American states to have Surinam and CURACAO
become German colonies and to have for the