The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-12-01
ISOLAT|NG HOLLAND
IS BAD POLICY, SAYS
MEMBER OF CABINET
Minister of Finance Claims Action
Makes the Dutch Dependent
Upon Germany, and Concessions
Have to be Made.

81 Aesociated Ffens.
The Hague, Netherlands. Dec. H.
"f am quite sIre the policy of Amer
ica and Britain OF isolatinE Holland
s a bad one" declared Marie Willem
Frederik Troub. Netherlands minister
Of finance In discussing recently his
country's position with the corre-
spondent OF the Associated Press.
Minister Treub's criticism was
based on the contention that the at
titude of the two powers made the
Netherlands dependent or Germany,
with 'he result that she had To make
an kinds of concessions to that coun-
Try. Moreover. he thought IL had a
M ost unfortunate effect on the nn-
ucu's sympathies. At the outset of
the war these were Tor the largest
| part, on the side OF the entente allies.
hut. excepting perhaps France, pro-
| allied feeling had since largely de-
| clined AZ - result Of allied measures.
II referendum on the subject could
be taken today he thought II would
| show pretty equal division of sym
pathies between the entente and the
central powers. Unless the present
policy be changed. he added. II am
quite sure pro-allied feeling will de-
cline daily
Discussing the question with Brit
ain ln respect of allowing Germany
To- taFc gravel and sand over Nether-
LINUS waterways to Bergium. which
led he British government to with
| draw financial and commercial tele-
graphic facilities from Holland. MIR.
| Treub declared: Proof in such elm .
cuustances Is always difficult. but II
the Netherlands government only gets
! the impression that such sand and
gravel is really for war purposes I am
absolutely sure the traffic Will he
| stopped
A. regards the question OF the Meth
erihnds ships that have so long been
lying IN American ports the minis
trr was hopeful that an arrangement
might even yet materialize, suggest
INK that u would be mutually ac-
ceptnhle Il say, Il third OF their NUM-
/ her was placed In the America Meth
| erlands East Indies service. "A third
! placed at the disposal OF the belgian
| relief commission and third per-
! mitted To ply between the United
/ states and Holland.
| lis it possible for the Netherlands
so to revise her present export ar.
| rangcment aS tu remove America $
] objections Ia permitting bread grain
, ana cattle food To be exported here 49,
| questioned the correspondent. refer
ring thereby To thr surplus products
of Hollands own soil. that are now
divided between Germany and
britain.
1T rs certainly possible to revise
present agreements with Gormany
ana Britain" was the reply, "and in
deed, II Will be one of the first du-
ties of tho newly formed central ex-
port bureau to undertake such re-
| vision, Tor at present We are not free
20 export to neutral countries The
proportion of exports going To Ger.
many cannot be reduced To any con.
siderable extent. for We are depen.
dent ON thar country for our coal and
other necessities"
Ncr" the Netherlands likely To h,
Vet drawn into the war by the va.
tlous complications now arising in
puircd the correspondent II do no
think there is immediate danger o
that replied Mr. Treuh but IL tn,
war lasts another year or more theI
non" can pruphesS what will he IN.
result Serious economic and polIti
cal difficulties may be expected"
What do YOU think Of the peac,
outlook questioned the interviewei
The ourlook In my opinion. is yer,
bad came the reply
How would Holland regard
peace whereby Germany only release,
Belgium ON condition OF the Euaran
tees, "f which she speaks. as. for In
stance. administrative separation %
inquired the correspondent
Without knowing the exact natur
pt such guarantees was the answer
'tt is impossible to express an opin
ION Administrative separation Nigh
aud might not weaken Belgium II
conceivable that q system might b
established. as IN Switzerland whic
did not reduce the nations strength
regard II as great interest fo
Holland that Belgium should he rc
stored to absolute independence. tina
{ she should be an entirely neutral. fre
a country, not under the control OF ON
: party or the other"
a CTAnE IIAC nnuynn mo