New-York tribune., 1920-01-24
Hints Court Should Be
Fixed Previous to Acts


III in the future there should be
instituted by the society of nations
an international jurisdiction compe-
tent 10 judge IN case OF war deeds,
qualified as crimes, and submitted to
its jurisdiction by statute antedating
The acts committed. it would be fit
for Holland TO associate herself with
The new regime.
The government of the Queen
cannot admit in the present case any
other duty than that imposed upon
it by the laws Of the kingdom and
national tradition.
Now, neither the constituents Jaws
of the kingdom. which are based
upon the principles Of law UNIVERSAL
~ recognized, nor a respectable sec
ular tradition which has made this
country always a ground of refuge
for the vanQuished in international
conflicts permits the government OF
Holland 70 defer to the desire or
the powers by withdrawing from the
former Emperor the benefit of its
laws and this tradition.
Justice and national honor, OF
which respect is sacred duty, op-
pose this. The Netherlands people,
moved by the sentiments to which IN
history the world has done justice,
could not betray the faith OF those
who have contided themselves TO
their free institutions.
The government of the Queen is
pleased TO believe that the powers
Will recognize the good grounds of
these considerations, which rise
above any consideration of person.
alites and which seem to it so per
emptory that they could not reason
ably give rise to wrong interpreta-
tions.'
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.-Irasmuch
as the American government, not nav
ing ratified the peace treaty, IS taxing
no part in the peace conference demand
upon Holland for the eXtradltion of
the former Kaiser, official comment on
the reported refusal of Holland to
Weld to the Allied demands is un-
obtainable here. 1t is believed, how
ever. among observers that the Su-
preme Council at Paris at once will
frame and dispatch Il second note to
the Netherlands insisting that the
former German Emperor be given up
for trial. as provided for in the peace
treaty, for the supreme otfense" of
violating the sanctity OF treaties.
Just how far the peace conference
is prepared TO go in enforcing its de-
mand could not be conf njectured here. but
observers said that if Holland was
disposed to remain firm in her refusal
it would be difficult to imagine how
the peace conference could compel the
Dutch to give un their guest"
Hollands principal objections to ac-
ceding to the Allied demands are be-
lieved to have been known to the
Allies, as negative reply by the
Dutch has been forecast. 1t is taken
for granted here that the Allied repre-
sentatives are prepared to answer
these objections. The Dutch obiec-
tions were believed 10 be based on
participation in the re-
quest, rights of political refugees.
unamenability to the treaty
provisions and the rights of neutral
nations.
Diplomats here who discussed the
situation believe that negotiations may
result favorably for Hollands posi-
ton. They base their views on prece-
dents established by British law. For
/; his reason it is believed that the
former Kaiser may never be brought to
trial unless he voluntarily surrenders,
the possibility of which is considered
remote.