The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-21
Holland. submission to Germany

The question Of the fertilization of
Flushing at the mouth OF the SchelOit
continues to In. a subject Of excited dis
c,lssion in Holland and Belgium and -
causing considerable uneasiness among
the greater Powers, especially England.
France and Germany II seems TO be
clear that official circles" in Holland
are almost in a panic about the possi-
bic action OF Germany in case OF war
and have adopted q policy of concilis-
ton il not OF total submission in adj
vance This is plainly exhibited in a
pamphlet published at The Hague by
Lieutenant General DEN BEER PoRTr-
GAIL. a retired officer OF the Dutch
army Of great dist inction and member
of the Council OF state He takes the
broad ground that II - not only the right
but the duty Of Holland under existing
naturalization treaties 30 oppose th.
passage Of vessels up the Scheldt bring
ing aid 10 Belgium in case her territory
were menaced bv GERMANY BY the
| Treaty OF Vienna in 1899 Holland gives
no guarantees 10 Belgium. and the Hague
convention Of 1897 imposes on bellg.r-
ents the avoidance in neutral territory
or waters OF all acts constituting a
violation of neutrality Antwerp. he
argues. is purely commercial port. the.
Schelit purely "A neutral river, and the
one could not be turned INTO military
bas.. of operations nor tn. other into a
! high wav for warships and military sup
plies, even though Belgium w.r" placed
on the defensive II England wanted TO
come. TO the rescue OF belgium ia ease
| OF invasion by Germany. he concludes.
| she would find some better rout. than
the Scheldt. This suggestion verg.s
on the comic. as Ostend. Belgium other
port OF some importance. IN wholly I'M
suitable for military purposes. and a
landing az Havre would involve frontal
instead of fankiDg attack on the in
vading German column
That opinion int Holland is far from
being unanimous in support OF the Gov
eminent policy was shown IN debate
in the second chamber OF the States
General in the early part Of this month
, A Socialist Deputy. HCGENHOITz. and
a Liberal. PATYN. attacked the Govern
meni for abandoning iInpartiaiity in It's
diplomacy II showed said HuGEN-
BoITZ. TOO much s,ippIeness in one drec-
ton. too great frigidiiy IN the other
The arming OF the Dutch coasts. h,.
plainly said. could only be- regarded a.
an ac, unfriendly 10 England On the
contrary the best interests Of the Neither
lands themselves had been sacrificed 10
please Germany He alluded TO the
r,imOret letter Of the Kaiser TO Queen
WILHFa.MINA. warning her to fortify her
coasts against England. and he said tina,
If the denials Of such letter were true
il would be Interesting TO know whether
in some other shape admoni,ions had
not been convey 81 from the n aiser TO he
Queen or her Government
pATYN demanded Of Minister VAN
SwISDERFS Of rhe Foreign Office "a
categorical declaration that the coast
defence project. for which $40. 600 40 il
asked from the Parliament AT the pres
snt session. was NOT undertaken under
pressure by Germany Tn. Minister
made the -omsw hat .vasive answer
that there existed no fact indicating that
any foreign Power whatever had med
dlsd in he internal affairs of the Neither
lands He went on ~ say that deci-
sion ~ To whether Holland would pre-
vent he passage NJ troops ~ the S"heldt
! in ase of war was not urgent tho rela-
tiona between Holland and Belgium
were so amicable that tho time would