Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-06
DUTCH IGNORANT
OF GRAVE ERRORS
Government Conceals Vio-
lations of The Hague
Treaty
INDIGNANT AT ALLIES
Armistice Treated as Declara-
zion of Peace-Hohenzol-
lern Officially Guarded
Wireless to the Epening Public Ledger
Copyright, 1918. bv Neto York Times Co.


The Hague, Dec. 6.
while the whole world Is discussing
the problem Of the ex-Kaiser's soiourn,
the Dutch appear to be living in blissful
ignorance of the grave imprudences. de-
b hances of international law and dero-
cation from the Hague convention CT
which >the Netherlands Government has
been accused in the last few weeks on
questions relating to its hospitality 10
the Kaiser and the passing of German
troops through Dutch territory.
OF the various notes on the subject,
It is only permissible to suggest the mat
ter in the press. and many facts are
unpublished at all. That is why the
people are astonished and indignant at
the Allies attitude. especially that of
France, tow9rds the Netherlands.
The Government has not concerned It.
self over whether the Kaiser has
officially abdicated, but both in the case
of the Kaiser and the passing troops
1t has accepted facts as Germany has
presented them. and the people have
accepted the Kaiser as private
person. Moreover, in supporting and
echoing Germany's appeal to America
to, moderate the armistice terms. the
Netherlands has ignored the fact that
the armistice Is an act Of war not con-
cerning neutrals, according to The
Hague convention. This support of Ger
many's appeal has been officially denied
but there Is no doubt that the step was
taken. It was Switzerland's function,
being charged with Germany's interests
during the war. to transact such mes
sages. but the Netherlands has an ar
dent desire to be en- the bandwagon
having done nothing during the war.
Arrived in Uniform
The Kaiser arrived November 10 in
a generals uniform, with decorations.
accompanied by numerous suite. and
the Dutch Government sent representa-
tives to meet him. The frontier station
of Eysden was guarded by troops and
no one was allowed to approach it. On
the Emperor's arrival at Arnhem SOL
diers. with fixed bayonets, guarded the
entrance to the platform there and no
one was allowed on the platform unless
he was a traveller
Since that time, although the Kaisers
arrival was anticipated, an arbitrary
decision has been taken that he Is
private person. while the Crown Prince,
who arrived in similar fashion, has been
interned as a military figure.
There Is no doubt that the deposed
Kaiser's position, judicially, has been
badly defined, and even more so that
of the officers of his encourage. 1t is
declared that they are fugitives or de-
serters and should be nterned as such.
The officers and admirals of the Kai-
ser's and Crown Princes suites how
~.
ward between the Netherlands and Ger
many unrestricted. The Netherlands
Government has not adhered to the in
ternational duties Of internment, but
has behaved as II the armistice meant
the end of the war and the signature
of peace. The league of neutral coun-
tries has made an energetic protest
against the sojourn OF William Hohen-
zollern in the Netherlands.
On November 16 the Handelsblad said
that both Hohenzollerns must be in
termed, but the Kaiser has received the
honor, attention and prestige of royalty.
and the press and influential Dutch cir
cles take the attitude that he Is a
great tragic figure, evoking the same
pity as Napoleon, having expiated all
by his abdication.
Let Troops Pass First
In the matter of the passage of troops
through Dutch territory, the Premier
notified the ministers of the belligerent
powers on November 13 that it had been
decided that disarmed German troops
could pass over Dutch territory. The
Information was impaired at midday,
but the troops had begun to pass at
II o'clock. so that the ministers con-
fronted fait accompli, and could only
register the act and inform their respec-
tive Governments Of the strange deroga-
tion from the Hague convention. After
this the Dutch denied that the Allies
should even protest. but all the facts
in the case have never been published,
and the public, which only considers its
own economic troubles. Is kept in ig-
norance of the truth.
1t was doubtless difficult for the
Dutch to intern these troops in view