Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-01-24
H0L'.L. AND DECLINES ID SURRENDER THE: FORMER EMPEROR Not Bound by Peace Treaty Under Which He is
 Asked JUSTICE, NATIONAL.
 HONOR INVOLVED Say Netherlands People Cannot Be- tray Those Who Have Confided to Their Free Insti-
 oions

Paris, Jan. 23. Following is the reply of the Netherlands government to the entente:
 By verbal note, dated January 15 1920, given to the envoy of the Queen at Paris, the powers, refer ring to article 227 of the treaty of Versailles, demand that the govern ment of Holland give into their hands William of Hohenzollern, for mer emperor of Germany, so that he may be tried
 Supporting this demand, they ob- serve that if the former emperor had remained in Germany the Ger man government would, under the terms of article 228 of the treaty of peace, have been obliged to deliver him.
 "ln citing premeditated violations of international treaties, as well as a systematic disregard of the most sacred rules of the rights of man, q number of acts committed during the war by German authority, the pow CTS place the responsibility, at least morally, upon the former en- pcror.
 "Thcy express the opinion that Holland would not fulfill her inter- national duty if she refused to as sociate herself with them within the limit of her ability, to pursue or at least not to imp ade, the punishment of crimes committed.
 "They emphasize the special char acter of their demands, which con template not a juridical accusation but an act of high international policy and they make an appeal to Hollands respect of law and love of justice not to cover with her moral authority violation by the Germany of the essential principles of the solidarity of the nations.
 'The queen has the honor to ob- serve, first, that obligations which for Germany could have resulted from article 228 of the treaty of peace cannot. serve to determine the duty of Holland, which is not par ty to the treaty.
 Resents Charge.
 "The government of the queen can- not view the question raised by the demands of the powers except from the point of view of its own duty. It was absolutely unconnected with the origin of the war and has maintained and not without difficulty, it's neu- trality to the end. It finds itself then face to face with facts of the war in a position different from that of the powers.
 "lt rejects with energy all sus- picion of wishing to cover with it's sovereign right and it's moral au- thority violtion of the essential principles of solidarity of nations !; but 1t cannot recognize an interna- tlcnal duty to associate itself with this act of high international policy of the powers.
 of in the future there should be instituted by the society of nations an international jurisdiction compe- tent to judge in case of war deeds, qualified as crimes and submitted to it's Jurisdiction by statute ante-dat- ing the acts committed, it would be fit for Holland to associate herself with the rev regime.
 "Thc government of the queen can not admit in the present case any other duty than that imposed upon it b yrha laws of the kingdom and na- tional tradition.
 "Now, neither the constituent laws or Cac kingdom, which are based up on the principles of law universally recognized, nor respectable secular traditions which has made this coun- try always ground of refugee for the vanquished in international con- iliots. permit the government of Hol- Ian dto defer to the desire of the powers by withdrawing from the for mer emperor the benefit of it's laws and this tradition.
 Justice and national honor, o1 which respect is sacred duty, op pose this. The Netherlands people moved by the sentiments to which il history the world has done justice could not betray the faith of thos, who have confided themselves tt their free institutions.
 "The government of the queen il pleased to believe that the power will recognize the good grounds O these considerations, which ris above any consideration of person alities and which seem to it so per emptory that they could not reason ably give rise to wrong interpreta tions."