The New York herald., 1921-10-03
DUTCH PUT HOPES
IN ARMS PARLEY
Want Guarantees for Safety
of Colonial Possessions
in Far East.
ASSURED BY AMERICA
Present Defences made
quate Unless Armament of
Neighbors is Curtailed.
COST OTHERWISE TOO BIG
Estimate of New Indian Fleet
and Air Force 450,000,-
900 Guilders.
COST OTHERWISE TOO BIG

Special Correspondence to THE NEW YozK
Copyright, 1891. By THE NEW YozK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, sept. II.
Information which has reached THE
NEW York HERALD correspondent throws
prompted the Netherlands Government
TO solicit an invitation TO the Washing
ton conference. Holland, it appears, is
concerned about the safety of her East
Indian possessions, realizing that in the
event of any marked disturbance of the
balance OF power in the Pacific she
would be In danger of losing the valu-
able colonies of Java and Sumatra, upon
which. she believes, the Japanese inn
perialists have long been casting COW
etous eyes.
The defence OF these islands is at
present the dominating factor in Dutch
naval and military policy. A fairly
large military force is maintained there,
about 10000 strong. and since 1918 the
system OF conscription has been applied
to European settlers. 1t is believed that
mobilization would bring the East Indian
colonial army up to strength of $4,000
men. 1t has also been the custom for
many years to station the best ships OF
the Dutch navy in those waters. How
ever, the Dutch colonial fleet. made up
IS II is of few small ironclads, some
second rate cruisers and handful of
torpedoboats and submarines, is no
longer in position to ward off an attack
in force.
Holland has therefore been faced with
the necessity OF financing a large pro-
ion,
the cost of which would impose an in
toleralbe strain on her resources. The
committee of defence, which recently in
vestigated the strategic conditions on
the spot has reported the present naval
and military defences to be quite in
adequate, and has urged the creation of
O. new colonial fleet to consist Of four
cruisers. twenty-four destroyers, thirty
two submarines, four submarine mine
layers and q number of auxiliary ships.
They further recommended the estab-
lishment of a large air fleet, including
seventy-two airplanes for bombing
work The total cost of the naval and
air programme is estimated at 435,00o.-
900 guilders. and would be spread over
twelve years.
The Dutch Government considers this
sum prohibitive and has therefore been
casting ABOUT 1Or an &llerndtlNc poicy
which would have the effect OF render
ing the East Indian colonies safe from
aggression without reducing Holland
herself to bankruptcy. Strong hopes are
cherished at The Hague that in any
agreement which may be reached at
Washington between the United States.
Japan and Britain the integrity of the
Dutch possessions in Asia viii be ex-
pressiy guaranteed. II that were done
the big naval programme now In con-
temptation would be dropped.
Assurances received from the Amer
lean Government that Holland will be
granted an opportunity of submitting
her case to the conference have given
great satisfaction in Dutch official
circles, where so much Importance Is at
tached to the American promise that 1t
has been decided to postpone further
consideration of the colonial defence
scheme util the issue Of the conference
Is known.