New-York tribune., 1920-01-26
Hollands Stand
4 Defense of National Sovereignty.
II Is argued
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

IL as NISued
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Referring to tho proposed er-
tradition Of William Of Hohenzollen
from Holland and Hollands refusal to
surrender him for trial. / quote the
following clause from the note Of The
Netherlands referring to Language in
the request from the peace coaference
They emphasize the special character
Of their demands, which contemplate
not judicial accusation, but an act Of
high international policy"
The Dutch government carefully re-
trains in its note from raising tbs Ques-
ton Of the right Of any nation or COM
pany OF nations to assume 70 place upon
trial tho head of another government,
even after that governmen! has been
defeated in war and the alleged culprt
deposed. This is probably because the
Dutch government is unwilling to be-
come q party to controversy which
would be extremely novel in the his
tory Of nations, although the principle
has never been disputed and has been
recognized throughout the history OF
civilization, that no civilized nation
may thus interfere with the internal
policy of another nation. We're the
II otherwise states would cease to bs
sovereign.
Within the last six years It has been
demonstrated beyond the peradventurs
Of doubt that the world IS not yet
ready for international;sm. Until il is,
the head Of sovereign state may not
be tried before any tribunal excepting
one created By his own state (for which
there is precedent). Even in the few
instances where such trials have been
held the result has not been that sought
or expected by the prosecutors; in
stead, in nearly every such instance
party has been builded upon what vas
considered to be the corpse Of martyr,
and this party has persisted with Won
derful vitality, to the irritation and
sometimes to the serious harm OF tho
better plans and policies of government
proposed by the party which appeared
to have been successful The reason
for this is that all such trials were
not judicial, but political, as would IN
evitably be the proposed trial of the
former Emperor of Germany or Of those
associated with him in power
If the powers arc successful in bring
ing about a trial as proposed and en-
acted in the treaty. nstionalism VIII
have ceased and internationalism VIII
have taken its place. Sovereign states
will at that moment become obsolele'
will justify any state or association o.
powers to place upon trial the head OK
an nation for acts done in his capaclfy
as such head. Is the world prepared 10
face the question as TO the possibi-ly
that such trials can be fairly conduc'ed
and the result thereof be satisfactory
even to the judges and those whoiu
they represent? Are we in this country
PiS SPo1 SN ~ Ldhc l4c NHd4SNeo -
trials being not only unsatisfactory
but disastrous in their results Lastly
can auy one reasoning intelligently COM
slider without the gravest concern tnS
complications which must arise II 'he
civilized world embarks upon this roie'
Stripped Of its diplomatic languas"
does not the note Of the Dutch govern
ment mean that It cannot "assoclaV'
itself with this act" because 1t rceos-
nizes that as precedent it must hes~
after lead to untold confusion and ~
justice, especially to weak nations -
permitted to be accomplished?
Unless We are willing TO concede 'nAs
the time has arrived when one nation
or number of nations associated a'.
competent TO direct the development oA
civilization, we must admit the soun".
ness Of the position Of the governments
of the Netherlands.
ANDREW COLVlN'
New York, Jan. "a, 1920 II