HOLLAND AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2882, 21 September 1916, Page 5

HOLLAND AND THE WAR

Australian-New Zealand Oablo Aseociatioß. . The Hague, September 19. Queen Wilhelmina of Holland, in opening Parliament, expressed, her \ thankfulness that Holland was not involved' in the war. "Our relations j with all tho Powers arc friendly. I will continu'o in future to follow the ""-' line of duty dictated by the law oE. j .nations for neutral States. lam firm- j ly resolved to defend the independence and maintain the rights of Holland against whomsoever may seek to iir. . \ tack them. Besides our military forces, , ; our stores of arms and munitions arei '; being augmonted: Holland's economic. .life is every, day more affected by the ■ circumstances arising out of the war.- . ! The Government is obliged to taia j measures for supplying the people with! . j food; and therefore exports have beet* , j restricted." The Queen also roforred to the diffi-i j culties of transport affecting the Dutch! ! colonies, and said that the Government' j was doing all in its power to ameliorate j the conditions in the colonies. It wad . j intended also to strengthen the fleet .! so as adequately to provide for niarw time defence .. ■}