HOLLAND'S NEUTRALITY AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2517, 19 July 1915, Page 5

HOLLAND'S NEUTRALITY AND THE WAR

~ INTERVIEW WITH MR. CHURCHILL FREE NETHERLANDS CANNOT EXIST WITH A GERMAN ANTWERP i 1 By Telegraph—Press Association—Cowrifjht (Rec. July 18, 4 p.m.) Rotterdam, July 17. Mr. Winston Churchill gavo an interview to a correspondent of tlio "Nieuive Rotterdamseh Courant," which has been censored m London. Mr. Churchill said: "Had Antwerp been able to obtain transport along tho Scheldt she need not have fallen, and the Belgians would liave been ablo to maintain their position oil tlio Nethe, instead of tho Yaer. Holland's ■ neutrality was not one-sided, she now liolda Autworp dosed for tlm Gwnmns, Hid the Netherlands allowed tho .violation of thijir. Mouti'alitij, thsj -

liavo been attacked, and perhaps the country occupied in great part by tho Gorman army. Tho Allies carefully respected tho. Netherlands right as an independent State to consider her "own interests. The Allies did not ask eleven hint at a passago along the Scheldt"The'danger wil] never threaten you from our side, but a free Netherlands cannot exist with a German Antwerp. There aro possibilities of a real danger bccause Germany may be forced to attack Holland.

"Germany is getting into the position of a wild boast in a cage. She sees the flames coming nearer and nearer, and makes desperate dashes to the left and right, but fortunately yon have your good, bravo army, and then your wonderful water-lino. After this war. the position of smail States will be stronger than over. Tlio criminal who lias thrown himself into littlo. Belgium will stand, after chastisement, as a. fearful example." Mr. Olrarchill added tho Allies are going to win. The world stands open to us, and wo can recuperate and strengthen ourselves as often as is necessary. Britain's determination and power grow montlily, Men aro streaming in. and wo are unable to equip them as quickly as they offer themselves. Thoindustrial resources are being thoroughly organised, and tlio production of ammunition will be staggering. The Fleet continually grows stronger. Tho Italians have joined. They are fresh, and more will follow. Is it strange that the British were not as strong as tho Germans on tlio first day? These people prepared themselves for forty years. We had to expand wli'ila fighting, and to partly improviso. ■INTERVIEW' GIVES SATISFACTION TO HOLLAND.. (Rec. July 18, 5.10 p.m.) Amsterdam, July 17. The "Nieuwe Courant," commenting on Mr. Churchill's interview, says:—> "It confirms Dutch neutrality. We have nothing to fear from England. The interview gives satisfaction to Holland."-