Evening star., 1942-05-18
Advocates Recognition
Of Russio by Dutch
Writer Tells How Holland
Was Friend Of Czurs
Without Approving Serfdom
BIZ A. J. BdrnOn1D.

Holland is an ally of Russia and rec
ognizes in the U. S. S. r. the most valiant
champion Of her freedom. The news
Of Hitler's setbacks on the eastern front
kindles the fame of hope in all Dutch
hearts. Still, the Netherlands govern
ment in London persists in its pre-war
policy of withholding official recognition
from the Soviet Republics. There is no
minister plenipotentiary representing
Holland at the Kremlin, nor has an
envoy from Moscow been accredited to
the Netherlands government in London.
The Dutch weekly Vrij Nederland,
which is published in London, has been
vigorously advocating a reversal Of this
attitude Of aloofness. Before the attack
Of Japan on the East Indies, Holland
was able to play the part of real ally
by supplying Russia with products from
Sumatra and Java that were essential
to her war effort. But now that Holland
has lost this means OF condoning for
her lack OF diplomatic courtesy, she
finds herself In the unenviable role OF a
sulking and ungrateful beneficiary who
does not. and cannot, offer any benefit
In return. That the Dutch government
itself is beginning to see 1t this way is
inferred by the London editor from a
congratulatory telegram sent by the
Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Rus
sian ambassador in London on the ami
versary Of the Red Army. One does not
publicly congratulate a man and tell him
IN the same breath that one does not
wish to know him socially. With Hitler's
regime, in spite Of the blood purge, of
pogroms instigated by the government,
OF organized massacres in Poland. the
Dutch government maintained diplo-
matte relations up to the day OF the
attack on Holland. In the face of that
record 1t has small excuse, 1t would
seem, for persisting In its diplomatic
disapproval Of bolshevism
The rulers of the Dutch Republic,
800 years ago, were more realistic in
managing their relations with the out
side world. The free burghers of AM
sterdam and the other cities of Holland
did not admire the Muscovite regime
that held the entire Russian nation In
serfdom. But their adherence did not
prevent them from exchanging diplo-
matte courtesies with the tyrant In the
Kremlin If these could benefit the COM
mercial interests Of Holland. The Eng
lsh and the Dutch were vying with each
other for the good graces of the Car.
An English writer OF the period, DR..
Samuel Collins, for nine years court
physician to Gar Alexei and author Of
The Present State Of Russia" G67D,
charged that the Dutch carried on a
vicious anti-British campaign in Russia
by means Of scandalous pictures and
libelous pamphlets. But they did not
put their only. nor their chief, trust in
propaganda Of that sort. The Dutch
merchants had powerful helpers in high
places, amongst others in Jan van
Sweden, Hollander who had organ
lied the postal service in the Cars do
mains, and in another countryman called
Gerrit Claessen. a descendant, no doubt.
OF Aren't Claessen, who in the previous
century, had been the Emperors apoth-
cary and favorite Of the imperial fam
lily. And now and then, when difficulties
arose. the States General would send a
special mission to Moscow that would
reinforce the weight Of diplomatic ar
gument with load Of magnificent
presents.
Such an embassy. headed by Jacob
Boreel, sailed from the Texel on Septem-
Der 18, 1864. In the ambassadors suite
was young man who had just finished
his law studies at Leyden He was not
a member Of the mission, but went along
at his fathers expense to gain experience,
to see the world, and perhaps to make
personal contacts that might prove
profitable to the family fortunes. For
Nicolaas wilson's father and grand
father had carried on for more than half
q century a lively trade with Muscovy
and Persia. The Calvinist merchants OF
old Amsterdam did not believe in the
search Of pleasure for its own sake;
they approved of the quest only II an
increment Of profit lent an air of solidity
to the pleasure. Young Nicolaas was an
earnest. studious boy, on whom the cost
OF the long journey was not wasted. He
collected data about the Tartars and
the Kalmuks which he afterwards turned
to good account In his famous book on
"Noord-en Oost-Tartarije." q descrip-
ton OF land and people not based on
personal experience but on oral infor-
nation and the study of books and maps
He kept q diary Of his visit to Moscow
which unfortunately no longer is extant
But an untidy copy Of 1t has been pre-
served in the Bibliotheque Rationale at
Paris. 1t has never been edited, as far
as I know. My knowledge of its con-
tents Is derived from q report made on
1t by DR.. A. Kluyver to the Literary Sec
ton Of the Royal Academy Of Sciences at
Amsterdam.
The Dutch embassy was lodged in the
posolski dvor, or ENJOYS palace. where
they were practically imprisoned. For
they were under the never relaxing sur
veillance Of two pristafs, or commits
saries. without whose company neither
the ambassador nor any member of his
suite were allowed to go out. The pris-
tafs would not even permit young Witsen
to receive a visitor who had undertaken
to teach him Russian. Nor could he get
permission from them to inspect the
rich collection of maps in the Imperial
Library. Being uneducated themselves"
Witsen wrote bitterly. they will not let