New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-22

Member Of Queen WdhelminG's Pr
rate Council. Professor Of ConStitU-
tional and International Lac at the
University of Amsterdam, Editor Of
"I'an Onsen It'd" and Author Of "Thc
Var and international Lo,o," "Ttc
Constitution of the Netherlands: It's
Character and Value" "English
State Documents etc.
THE psychology of the human mind Is
difficult study; the psychology of ma
Il tons presents variety OF problems
still more complicated; the psychology
of foreign nations, by the very differences IN
the minds involved, touches an extreme OF bat
fling completely This should be borne IN mind
when an author belonging to people engaged
in the present war speaks of or to neutral ma
tons. giving his opinion as to what these ma
tions will either do or not do in this war. Only
too easily will he attribute to them the char
acter. the feelings, the aspirations Of his own
country.
How completely the Germans deceived them
selves when at the beginning of the war they
especially the scholars among them, deluged
Holland with a flood of pamphlets, evidently
believing that the Dutch, like themselves had
firmly resolved to call everything that Ger
many had done and would do right and
inst and humane! When, on the other hand
the French or English utter the expectation
either as a bitter reproach or as an earnest
wen-meant exhortaton, that Holland Will soon
ioin the Allies, how little knowledge of the real
popular feeling in Holland do they betray
1--WE English know something Of the Dutch
spirit." says H. G. Wells in his article on "HoI-
lands Future" and then he expresses this
very xpectation-Holland is to be fighting
with the Allies before many months have
nassed by. But his words do not contain the
proof. If Mr.. Wells thinks he has correctly
interpreted the popular feeling IN Holland ne
is mistaken. His article breathes an English
not Dutch spirit.
What. then. is the Dutch feeling? ] shall
attempt to explain it in discussing the reasons
why. according to Jr Wells, Holland should
take part in the war. and in doing so ! shall
Law aside my own opinions and depict only the
feelings Of my people, without adding praise
or blame.
Holland. 50 Mr.. Wells thinks, will side with
the Allies, first from loathing Of and indigna-
ton at the wrong done to Belgium. Indeed,
in the first days of August others expressed
this same view Holland was to side with the
Belgian people, 10 whom she is so closely re-
lated, since, without any fault Of their own,
they were to be crushed and annihllated by
their powerful neighbor. Hollands own inter
ests, too, required her to come to the rescue
and to prevent the principle Of the indepen-
dence of the smaller states from being ruth
lessy trodden under foot. In this way some
spoke in public, in this way many talked at
home Was it the general feeling of the Dutch
people? Evidently not. These utterances were
soon hushed. The poor, brave Belgians were
pitied for the sufferings they had undeservedly
10 endure: they were charitably received and
supported when helpless they came to our
country in great numbers; but for the rest we
then passively watched the course of events.
And should we now choose the side Of the
Allies for the wrong done to Belgium? Such
thing is done at once or it is never done at
all.
Holland holds sword at the back of Ger
many; it can deliver conclusive blow"
Finish Germany" You have only, Mr.. Wells
suggests ''to look at the map" to see that If
Holland does not intervene, the war will last
for another full year. Holland remains OPP
pressed by the expensive mobilization of her
army by the stagnation of her trade and in
dustry, by the support Of the Belgian refugees.
For Mr.. Wells these are further reasons why
Holland should make war on Germany.
But the Dutch do not consider ourselves
such good strategists that, like Mr.. Wells, we
venture by single ''look at the map" to Judge
1hn ualnn Of n11r rnilitarv nnsitinn i'm this Mar.