HOLLAND'S DEFENCES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 916, 8 September 1910, Page 7

HOLLAND'S DEFENCES.

FOREIGN PRESSURE SUGGESTED. By Tclegraph— Press Association-kjopyrigit; .; .'Paris;'September ei. The.newspaper "Lβ Temps" . states that, the ' Netherlands. Government's Bill, providing for;the expenditure of. £3,000,000 .on coast .defences/ has beejn coldly received.. It., is. suggested that this Ms the result of. foreign pressure. , A sensational statement was made some time ago.by ißai-oii Heeckerea van KelT m the Dutch Upper Chamber to the effect' that a' letter: was written'by the"] Kaiser to Queen - AVilhelimna in 1904, demanding, under pain of occupation, the torhfication-of '■ the; Neflieriands against : a possible attack by England. l The story I was, in July, "coaiditionally" denied by the ei-Preriiior,- in his organ, ■ .De._Standaard." - He adds,' lioweper, that it has, never been denied that eome communication .'did take : place in' 1904 but that "the Government both' then and noiv. are. of the opjhion that the: business was of a confidential character, and must remain such in the future." ■ ■ ■-.' . From this it is generally concluded that some, intervention, ; by,tno,jKaisor/,did take. , pkee , in that year, but that it must have been not iri .writing, .and probably did., refer to coastal defencci ....; ~" ■