The Washington herald., 1915-02-20
England and the Low Countries.

The occasions of war and the causes of war are
usually very different things. The occasion of the
great going on in Europe was the
assassination of the heir apparent of Austria and
his wife at Sarajevo. We think may say, with
out feeling or displaying any spirit OF partisanshp
or prejudice, that the cause of the war was the
ambition of Germany for the domination of Eu-
rope Now it is historical fact which it is very
interesting remember at this juncture, that four
times in four centuries the political equilibrium OF
Europe has been convused by the desire of some
one power to attain practically despotic sway,
and that at each OF these times England stepped
in preserve the equilibrium as it previously
ised, and to make fight for the independence OF
what formerly known as the Low Countries.
For than 1000 years there has been a
close political, strategical, and above all economic
connection between England and the general Meth
erland territory Trade relations between Eng
land and Flanders, Northern Burgundy, and the
whole territory around the mouth OF the Rhine,
have been almost old as England itself. Dy
nastic connections go even further back than the
time OF John OF Gaunt, Client, where the great
head OF the house OF Lancaster born Readers
of the "Betrothed" will remember the thrilling
story OF the stout defense against the Welsh
tribes OF the Castle OF Raymond Berengcr, by
Wkin Hammock, the Flemish weaver and his
men, to whom the protection of the castle had
been entrusted 1t was understood, therefore. in
carly times, that England and Flanders were linked
together and that the country that menaced the
prosperity OF the Netherlands menaced the pros
pcrty OF England. In later generations the
strategic and political connection between Eng
land and the Netherlands into even greater
Importance; and it to be a standing maxim
OF English foreign policy to safeguard the
81 ,1,c NetLar1,uIS a., nd
itself. This independence first jcopardizcd in
a large way by Philip II, OF Spain, and the Haps-
burg dynasty How England helped the Dutch in
their rebellion against Philip in 1868 and how the
struggle ended with the great fight in the days
of the Armada twenty years later, is story that
il is unnecessary to repeat.
But the contest renewed a century later
by Louis NV and the Bourbon monarchy of
France. France succeeded Spain the foe OF
European liberty. Richelieu left Louis NV grca,
and powerful, in much the way Bismarck
LETT William II. Like William ii. Louis XIV
cndeavorcd to extend the borders OF his country
to what he called their natural limits" which
were the ocean, the Pyrenees, the Mediterranean.
the Alps and the Rhine. Richclieu had already
graspcd the Middle Rhine Louis claimed the
Netherlands England let him take the Spanish
Netherlands Luxembourg, and all OF old Burgundy
but baked when he tried to grab what is now
Belgium. Her traditional and instructive foreign
policy asserted itself. because she knew that Eng
land was not safe for day if Antwerp fell into
the hands OF France. The contest ended with
the complete defeat OF France after the long wars
of the Spanish succession A century and half
later the Napoleonc specter and England
led the struggle OF Europe against it. Following
the defeat OF Napoleon upon the soil of Belgium
Holland and Belgium elected into indie
pendent nationality. The partnership dis
solved in 1881 and Belgium left free a |
barrier state between England France and Ger
many.
The meaning OF all this is that the German
Emperor and his counselors have shown them
selves grossly ignorant OF the great historic prin-
cples that always have governed and always must
govern the foreign policy OF England. They have |
not realized how important to England is the neu-
trality and the independence of Belgium and how
surely attack upon Belgium by an outside |
power must be resented by England an attack !,
upon herself. The truth has been borne in upon |
the English people for centuries that the Low
Countries must never be in the possession OF any
power which is in position TO threaten the 1ibcr
tics OF Europe. Let hope that this lesson which
tory, will not need 10 be taught again.
T-l:.~.,. l.l.J IT,