The Washington times., 1915-06-17
THE ATTITUDE OF HOLLAND

IdTlS HAS HedTu lIluC l1OlluHQ, IL
it doesn't come into the war, will at
least presently give it's consent for
British troops to cross Dutch terri
tory. Paris is probably in error, for
it would be practically impossible
for Holland to give such authorize
ton without being instantly forced
into the war. From the hour when
Berlin learned that British troops
were being landed in Dutch terri
tory, Holland would he the newest
and most bitterly hated of Ger
many's enemies; it would be deluged
with German force, if that force
were at hand to be turned loose; and
it is hardly conceivable that the Ber-
lin staff has failed to make provi-
sion for just such a contingency.
Therefore the question really Is
whether a self-sustaining British
force could be ferried across from
Harwich to the Hook of Holland and
other available landings, in quick
enough time to be ready to meet the
German advance.
This is one of the great problems
connected with the possible use of
Holland as a base. The country is
full Of German agents; secrecy as
to doings there is out Of the cues
ton. Wireless plants are easily
concealed nowadays and those of
sufficient power to communicate
across the German border are doubt
less numerous. The British expert
ence at Antwerp is not calculated
to encourage the notion that such
an expedition is over-easy. There
must be the most detailed prepara-
tion for it, in all possible secrecy
Holland leans powerfully toward the
side Of the allies; but it has seer
the fate of Belgium, and has hest
tated. Moreover, like Roumanis
and Greece, it's royal family is al
lied with Germany's dynasty anc
has taken an insistent position il
antagonism to entering the war
Public opinion has had no such eff
fective opportunity to manifest it,
earnestness as it recently got i,
Greece, through the elections whicl
returned the war party to contro
with a big majority. Yet despit
all these obvious objections to an,
theory Of Holland joining the allies
; there stands the fact that Holland
national existence would be of littl
value if Germany should win tn
war, retain Antwerp, annex Belgium
and proceed as she inevitably woul
do to prepare for another crushing
blow to Britain. Holland perfect
understands that her one hope t
survive is in the success of the al
!, lies. She will make the sacrific
, necessary in order to help them,
she Is brought to final realizatio
that without her they may lose
!, while with her they will be certai
to win. 1t is no far-fetched surmis
that Roumania and Greece may b
. waiting in some measure on Ho
. land, and Holland on Roumania an
- Greece. The smaller nations kno'
- that, once they plunge in, their fat
is sealed unless the allies win. D
=, plomacy is still at work on the t
tanic task of perfecting coalitio
of all outside Europe against I'll
!, Teutonic countries. Coalitions al
4 difficult of organization because sue
a an infnity of conflicting condition
: must be met. 1t is perfectly possib
that Sir Edward Grey knows, at tn
!, very moment, that Holland will b
- come his ally if Russia will on
=, cede Bessarabia to Roumania! +,
a Holland might easily say, "We W
come in if Roumania and Gree
come at the same time" Roumani
that "We will come in if we G
Bessarabia;" and so a concession
n Russia in southeast Europe wou
e determine the course of the war
r the North Sea.
ir 1t is on the negotiations whi
everybody knows are going on f
+ perfecting the anti-Germanic leagu
S, that all hope of early ending Il
" war depends. Greece in the confi
a means a great Greek army to fini
4, the task of the Gallipoli peninsu