The sun., 1919-10-19

dWStcIuu" LCec0VuuJ. 7"
country was under arms and con"
stantly guarding the frontiers against
invasion. .
Before the catastrophe of August
1914, there had been a steadily grow
ing unity Of thought and interest in.
Holland and Belgium. The link OF
similar language was growing strongr.
er. Flemish and Belgian writer's were
often even more appreciated In Holm
land than they were in Belgium. 81
1t is unjust to blame Holland for,
holding territories which have been q,
part of her for centuries simply be-,
cause tho military authorities of an,
other country think they would like TO,
utilize them. BY parallel argument
Alaska should be ceded to Canada and
the whole of the territory south OF the
estuary of the st. Lawrence River
should be turned over to the United
States. -
We are told by Mr.. Cunliffe-Owen
that the award to Belgium of the
territory belonging to Holland along
the Scheldt would be an appropriate
recognition of the magnificent service
Belgium gave to the cause of the
Entente"
1t will be strange lesson for Amer
lea to learn at her initiation INFO
world diplomacy that it is perfectly
proper to reward one nation by steal
! ing territory from another. Such in
voluntary transfers of territory will
hardly form harmonious foundation
for the League of Nations.
| The high indignation expressed by
Mr.. Cupliffe- Owen over the misuse by
German troops of the right of passage
over the alleged Dutch territory Of
Limburg Is indeed protesting too much.
| Will he give one specific instance of
| the crossing of Dutch territory by
German troops without those troops
being informed or disarmed by tho
Dutch?
Rumor Spread by Invaders.
The rumor was spread by the Ger
man invaders in Belgium that they
had been permitted by the Dutch to
cross through Holland territory. The
obvious object of this misstatement
was to produce i'll feeling against Hol-
land in Belgium, which subserved tho
purposes of the invaders. This mis-
statement was carefully examined by
the Dutch Government and most
ample proof exists that it was entirely
| false.
At the close of the war the retrclt-
| ing German forces in Belgium had am
| pie time to go to the south ot Mae
| stricht and then up into Germany,
| but the Dutch authorities. knowing
| that their marching through Belgian
| territory would lead to grave disorders,
permitted the Germans to shorten
their retreat by passing through
Dutch territory at the narrowest part
| Of Limburg on condition, however, THAI
all arms were surrendered and all bag
gage left behind. The plumber Of
Belgium never passed over Hollands
soil into Germany.
The wild proposal of Mr.. Cunliffo-
Owen that the United States should
be directed by the League of NatiuUs
TO boycott Holland till the mud banks
of the Scheldt are coded to Belgiula
viii hardly strike Americans as ah
example of the sweet rule of peace
formulated by the great conference
at Paris. Holland and Belgium will
work out their harmonious destiuy,
and the gratitude they feel toward
the United States will grow as the
years go by.
The silver wreath deposited by tbc,
representatives of the United Statos
upon the tomb of Hugo de Groot in
the church at Delft is emhematic of
the appreciation that the United StataI
feels for the stand always taken by
| Holland to settle difference by Ietc.
ence to reason rather than to force.