Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1918-01-10
Hollands Plight and Plea.
From the Chicago Post.

From the Chicago Post.
Hollands situation is an extremely di1-
ficult and uncomfortable one. She is so
near a neighbor to our enemy-to the enc
my of all free p~eoples-that she must act
with scrupulouS care in order to avoid
the danger of invasion and conquest. I'm
less she is willing to fight she cannot at
ford to give pretext for attack. So she
is compelled to maintain a neutrality that
max no discrimination between Gus
toners for her goods.
"Of course, we export our dairy and
agricultural products as compensation for
coal, iron, potash and other chemical
products which Germany exports to u.s.
admits DIR. Van Der Linden, premier of
Holland.
Equally of course, however, the nations
that are fighting Germany cannot facili-
tate Hollands trade with their enemy by
furnishing foodstnffs to supply the lack
| made by her Export. DR.. Van Der Linden
protests that his government assumes re-
sponsibility for all imported goods, and
that there is no r%e-eXport. But it makes
small difference whether Holland feeds on
it's own products and transships ours to
Germany or feeds on ours and exports
hers. The fact in either case is that we
are helping her to feedAthe nation we are
fighting. If we refuse to send her our
products, then she must eat her Own,
and to- that extent Germany must do
without-and to make Germany do with
out is one of the chief items in our war
program.
Nor does the Holland premier's argu-
ment that his country's contribution to
Germany is inconsiderable carry force. No
contribution is inconSiderable under the
conditions that obtain. Germany would
not be willing to trade coal and iron with
Holland-vastly valuable assets--if she die
not actually need Hollands dairy and
agricultural products.
OF course, to lack coal and iron and
potash is a hardship-almost as great a
hardship as doing without bread. But
hardship is too common an experience il
this war to move us greatly; and Other
countries than Holland have endured
greater suffering in orler that the world
freedom might be preserved.
1t is a hardship for Belgium to give VI
her land, her sons. her women to Tho
enemy; but Belgium accepted it for TIL.
sake of principle and the rights of small
nations. 1t Is a hardship for America t
send her boys %,NN miles overseas t.
wounds and death. but America is doing
it in order thti libtr,y may be saved tt
mankind.
No country nill derive greater advan
age from the overthrow of Prussian pow
IT thar Holland. who lives and tremble.
under it's threatening shadow. And Hol
and will win deliyerance from this neigh
boring menace at the price of American
llOOu, WIlle size saves HeT own. AS
neutral, for whose rights and liberties W,
fight, she may well endure the Jesse
hardship incident to her position and nee
eSsary to our success.
1t i'll becomes her premier to speak as /
he questioned Americas sincerity; to cas-
doubt upon the genuineness Of our inter
est In the welfare of small nations. ]
is as ungracious and shortsighted a
would be the attitude of a store proprie
tor who complained that the fire depar,
:nent. in fighting a fire next door to him
had blocked the entrance to his place o
business and lost him a few dollars il
trade.
1t may be possible to arrange that Hol
land can get coal and iron and othe
necessaries from America; but it must b
on the inviolable assurance that neithe
directly nor indirectly does such trade con
tribute to our enemy. If the granting G
that assurance exposes Holland to per
of war with Germany, she must make he
choice. Neutrality is a luxury. If Ho
land wants to keep it. she must pay tn
price.