Evening star., 1920-01-24

at Paris. the powers. referring to
article -! of the treaty of Versailles.
demand that the government of Hol-
land give into their hands William OF
Hohenzollern. former Emperor OF
Germany. so that he may be tried
supporting this demand they OBJ
serve that if the former emperor
had remained in Germany the Ger
man government would under the
terms of article 22S of the treaty
of peace. have been obliged to de-
liver him.
In citing as premeditated viola
tions of International treaties as well
as systematic disregard of the most
sacred rules of the rights of man a
number of acts committed during the
war by German authority. the powers
place the respor Sibi'ity at least NOR
ally upon the former emperor
They EXPRESS the opinion that Hol
land would not fulfill her interna-
tionai duty if she refused to associate
herself with them within the limit
not to impede. the punishment of
crimes committed
Special Character Of Demands.
They emphasize the special char
acter of their demands. which con-
template not juridical accusat ton but
an act of high international policy
and they make an appeal to Holia nd's
to cover with her moral authority yfo-
lation by Germany of The essential
principles of the solidarity of nations
The queen has the honor to OH
serve. first that obligations which for
Germany. could have resulted from
article 22s of the treaty of peace
cannot serve to determine the duty of
Holland, which is not party TO the
treaty
The government of the queen.
hx ,r,f, 1Ia
cannot view the question raised by
the dema nds of the powers except
from the point of view of its own
duty. II was absolutely unconnected
with the origin of the war and has
maintained and not without difficulty
its neutrality to the end. 1t finds it
self then face to face with facts of
the war in a position different from
that of the powers.
49, Rejected With Enerxy.
II rejects with energy all suspi-
ciin of wishing to cover with it's
soifreign right and its moral author
itl violations of the essential prin-
ciIfes of solidarity of nations: but
il ;eannot recognize an international
duty to associate itself with this act
ofishigh international policy of the
poYers-
instituted by the society of nations an
international jurisdiction competent
TO Judge in case of war deeds. qualified
as crimes and submitted TO its juris-
diction by statute antedating the acts
cof1mitted. il would be fit for Hol-
land to associate herself with the new
regime.
.aThe government of the queen can
not;admit in the present case any other
duty than that imposed upon IL by
thsflaws of the kingdom and national
trsaition-
!, Always Ground for Refuge.
Nov neither the constituent laws
thes principles of law universally
recognized. nor a respectable secular
tradition which has made this coun-
trEsalways ground of refuge for the
vanauished in International conflicts.
peHslsit the government of Holland to
defer to the desire of the powers by
Withdrawing from the former en-
perer the benefit OF its laws and this
tradition.
Justice and national honor of W hich
respect is a sacred duty. oppose this
The Netherlands people, moved by
the sentiments TO which in history the
world has done justice. could not be-
tray the faith of those who have con- =
fded themselves TO their free insti-
tutions.
The government of the queen is
pleased to believe that the powers
will recognize the good grounds of
IN eSe considerations. which rise above
any consideration of personalities and
which seem TO IL so peremptory tina
they could not reasonably give rise 10
wrong interpretations.