The Sentinel=record., 1915-04-17
PREPARING
 A TRADE REVIVAL
EVIDENTLY SEE END OF THE WAR NEAR AND WANT BUSINESS
 RE-ESTA5LlSHEO.
Urge Local Capital to Spend the Mon ey in the Development Of the Dutch Colonies to Help Home Industry.

The Hague, Netherlands, April l6- Far-seeing men in the Dutch indus trial and commercial world are al ready making preparations to benefit from the results of the war from an economical point of view
 Among the leaders of industry and commerce here the opinion is almost unanimous that redistribution of the avenues of trade is certain to bel brought about These men, of course, take the future position of Holland first into consideration. In this con nection they look toward the Dutch colonies, which form an empire many times larger than the home country itself and whose requirements have been hitherto supplied to great eX- tent by Germany and Great Britain.
 The Dutch East Indies, for instance. have depended almost entirely upon foreigners for their imports. Now how. ever, it is intended to make great ef- forts to push purely Dutch products there and to create an interest on the part of the colonies themselves in placing on a firmer footing relations with the mother-cOuntry With this end in view one step already has been taken in granting a small beginuins of elfgovernment to the Indies which for the first time in their his tory this year have issued big gov ernment loan, the responsibility for which falls upon the colonies them selves
 The Netherlands Union for the Pro motiun of National Industries, form ed as its name implies, for the pur- pose of furtherine Dutch trade, is a part of the movement of Dutch indus trial development arising out of pres ent conditions. It binds it's members, who are manufacturers. merchants, storcEcepers and private individuals, to purchase or sell only Dutch-made productions.
 The members argue that much Dutch money now going to America and other countries for the purchase of articles of ordinary everyday con sumption could be keupt in the com try, while instead of Dutch investors as now seeking tU place their fortunes or savings in mortgaga securities in the United States and Canada they should be induced Co use them in the development of Dutch trade in the mother country and it's colonies. It is contended that the capital of the Roy al Netherlands Company for the eX- ploitation of oil lands in the Dutch In- dies is largely foreign the Dutch hay ing neglected to avail themselves of the opportunities offered them. while many other, industries in the same colonies have fallen from the same cause into the hands of the British and the Germans.
 At home in Holland even the Rot terdam Street Car Company is a Bel gian concern. while, notwithstanding the fact that the country is naturally rich-in it's hard working people, in it's soil, it's ports, it's waterways and its fuel in the shape of peat-and should be able to supply all it's own necessities, it permits foreigners 10 import many articles of ordinary use which it could produce itself A few instances of this kind are safes and locks, printing presses, matches. soap, electric lamps, pins and needles
 Lack of foresight on the part of tie Dutch was shown in the question of the supply of armameuts for the Meth erlands army A combination of Dutchmen offered. it is said to con struct an arms factory and make rifles up to the required standard and even went SD far as to manufacture and show the government a hundred rifles of the calibre required. but the gov ernment declined the offer and bought the arms abroad.
 Apart from their own immediate in- terests Dutch commercial and indus trial leaders hold the view that the countries of South America, as a r2- suit of the uncertainty brought about in Europe by the war, will probably begin to look more and more 10 North America for their sources of supply, On the other hand they regard it as likely that Germany with her enor- nous commercial and industrial en- ergy, will be forced after hostiiue. have ceased to look around for new outlets for her trade and will thus come into direct competition with the United States. It is generally be- lieved here that Germany will almost certainly lose her colonies, while those of the British Empire and of France will be practically sealed against her trade. Russia also, it IS thought. will develop commercially and industrially to a remarkable de- gree and thus will close another Of Germany's markets.