The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-01-30

India for the British Crown the evidence failed
to sustain the rhetorical impeachment. What would
be the result of trial of the former German En-
peror can be only matter of opinion, but ne
could be indicted on many counts and prma facle
case could be made out against him. The dlfhculty
has been to arraign him. He sought sanctuary IN
Holland Could the Government of the Neither
lands be induced to surrender him? There was no
precedent 1t was necessary to base the request
for his "extradition upon high international policy,
which had to be shaped for the occasion. lhe only
hope of obtaining the person of the august criminal
Law in reasoning Holland into compliance Woulo
she take the moral view of the issue and disregard
the legal to stand with the Allies in the making OIL
a historic example Of the sovereign who claimed
protection within her borders? Could Holland De
made to see that she would condone his onenses
against civilization if she failed to give him up?
There was no impedment in the argument that
Germany would have been obliged to surrender the
Emperor under the terms of Article 22o OF the
treaty of peace if he had not crossed the boundary
into Holland, but had faced the consequences by
remaining with his people. Holland merely answer
ed that she was not party to the Treaty of Paris
Moreover. Holland had maintained her duty of neu-
traitv "not without difficulty" to the end of the
war, the implication being that in the matter OF
the surrender of William of Honenzollern she must
not abandon her detached position by asserting to
the "act of high international policy which the
Supreme Council proposed. Therefore, to quote
from the note of reply, the Government OF the
Queen could not "admit in the present case any
"other duty than that imposed upon it by the laws
"of the kingdom and national tradition" The sa-
Hent and unassailable reasoning of the reply is
contained in the following decisive paragraph:
eff in the future there should be instituted by the
society of nations international Jurlsdlctlon,
competent to Judge in case of war deeds quallhed
as crimes and submitted to its jurisdiction by
statute antedating the acts committed, 1T would be
fit for Holland to associate itself with the new re-
gime."
In short, the Supreme Council could present no
law for the surrender of the fugitive in sanctuary,
and Holland must decline to join the Allies IN their
"act of high international policy" devised for the
emergency, because her laws and traditions for
bade it. With dignity Holland pleads that her ter
ritory has always been "a ground of refuge for
the vanquished in international conflicts" 1t is
urged that the honor of the people of the Neither
lands is involved One can imagine Lord Reading
using the very same language employed by the
Government of the Netherlands if, the conditi ions
being reversed, victorious league of allies re-
quested the surrender of fallen monarch who had
set his foot British soil, relying upon British
justice and traditions for his safety.
Though they abhor the character and denounce
the deeds of the man who German Emperor,
Englishmen will find it hard to take exception to
the spirit of the Dutch note and to challenge its
conclusions AS times goes on there is likely to be
feeling of relief among the people of the allied
countries because Holland has declined to be
party to the setting of the stage for the trial of
William of Hohenzolern and the proongation of
the agony of the great There will still remain
to the Allies the opportunity and duty of making
up the case against the former Emperor lesson
to autocratic rulers and for the information of pos
terity. More effective than the judgment of an in
ternational tribunal is the verdict of mankind from
generation to generation.-New York Times.