Evening star., 1921-11-30
HOLLAND GIVES UP CAPITAL SHIP
IN REORGANIZATION OF NAVY
Tonkheer H. A. Van Karnebeek, Arms Del
egate, Declares Defense Alone Is Aim.
Hopes for Far East Settlement.

other powers have and although we
are not interested in quite the same
way as other powers are in the ia,
eastern problems. still everything
be or great Importance to US. AS q
matter OF fact, any modification in
the far eastern situation might affect
our most vital interests
| I'VE have in the far east an empire
of more than fifty million inhabitants
covering an area equal to nearly hall
OF Europe. That empire is the source
| or great riches. not only to us. but
to the world at large. and, realizine
! this, the policy of The Netherlands
IS liberal one. giving opportunities
TO all foreign interests. The popula
tion OF our East Indies is chieny com
posed of people of Mussulman creed
but there are also nearly one million
Chinese. If one thinks of the sig
nif1cance of these colonies it is easy
to understand that we watch very
closely the development of the dis
ence.
Our policy is devoid of any ambition
standing in the way of other powers,
except the ambition to hold our own.
AS our colonies afford vast oppor-
tunlty for our activities. our partici-
patton in the development of the re-
sources of other countries is neces-
sarily limited. We feel, however.
that if we can help in any way. by
suggestion or by experience. to settle
east. we are willing to do what We
can. On the other hand we have orr
interests to defend"
Asked about the prospective re-
organization of Hollands navy. the
Dutch foreign minister said:
This program is the result of an
inquiry of state commission, and
provides means for the defense of the
colonial empire and the fulfillment
of international obligations in case
1T might be necessary to maintain
suit of this inquiry, Holland has given
up the idea of building capital ships,
and, consequently, has already been
moving in the direction the Washing
ton conference is following now.
Holland is satisfied with sufficient
defensive navy, composed of small
craft, and is limiting her expenses
on armaments as far as circumstances
justify.
Il need not emphasize that there is
nothing aggressive in this reorgani-
zation of the Dutch navy. Holland
wants to be a factor, of peace in the
world, and believes in the fruitful
efforts Of international cooperation.
She does not participate in the de-
l1berations of the conference on ar
mament, and is satisfied in not doing
so. but if this conference is extending
its scope of activities to regulations
connected with the conduct of war
and the use of means of destruction
then the interests also of states
which are not now in the conference
may become involved"
Referring in this connection to the
first and second Hague conferences
where. he said, all powers were priv
ileged to take part in deliberations on
the question Of rules of warfare
Jonkheer Karnebeek emphasized the
opinion that it might be a backward
step if the laying down of such rules
were undertaken by the five powers
represented in the arms negotiations
without the participation Of other ma.
tions.
Expressing a strong hope that the
conference would result in lessen
ing of world tension, the Neither
lands foreign minister declared that
to achieve this it must consider
the great economic problem which
lies behind political problems and is
already menace to the worlds wei.
fare.
This problem is the real trouble
and there is no use dealing with po.
litical questions when at the same
time the economic aspect is not taken
into consideration. In Holland this
is very deeply felt. I am convinced
| that if the conference on far eastern
problems might result in the restora-
tion of International confidence and
the improvement of economic and
commercial prospects. progress would
result which would make the world
inuebted TO American initiative