A CRISIS IN HOLLAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 48, 21 November 1918, Page 4

A CRISIS IN HOLLAND

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Dueikg the last day or two glimpses have been given of a crisis in Holland which at first threatened to develop into revolution. On Saturday it was reported that the ''Dutch National Revolutionary Committee" had issued a manifesto demanding the abolition of royalty and a repudiation of State debts. What has happened in the sequel is not fully disclosed at time of writing, but a Reuter message asserts that absolute tranquillity has been restored, and that Troelstiu, the Dutch Socialist leader, admits that the revolutionary movement has failed. Some of the reports indicate that revolution was only averted _ by a formidable display of military force, but if there is any general tendency in Holland to overthrow the existing Constitution it must be a thing of sudden growth. It seems at present rather more likely that a minority of extremists attempted to stampede the country into revolution. In some of the later stages of the war disorder broke out at times in Holland, but it was accounted for by the distress due to a serious shortage of food. For this state of affairs the Government which held office until a month or two ago was in the most definite sense responsible. Its apparent aim from first to last was to permit and encourage a maximum volume of trade-with Germany, regardless of other considerations than that, of commercial profit: Dutch ships were the victims of some of the worst outrages committed by the U-boats, but instead of taking a firm stand in defence of its rights, the Government yielded to German terrorism, and kept a considerable part of its mercantile fleet in port. It was only when the Allies resorted to compulsion that Dutch ships which had been lying idle for months in American and other ports ■ were made available. The spiritless policy of their Government led to severe restrictions being imposed upon the supplies available to_ the Dutch people, and their condition in the final phase 'of the war was described as almost desperate. Factories closed down for want of raw material, and there was a, serious dearth of food. Nevertheless the last general election, held in July this year, showed little enough trace of revolutionary tendency. The Boman- Catholic partics secured a majority, and in September a Ministry of the Rightthat is to say of conservative views

—was formed, and took office. Probably this election was taken'on a register which'made about,7o per cent, of the male citizens of twentyfive and over eligible to vote. An Act was passed at the end of 1917 to establish universal suffrage, but as information stands it has not yet conic into force. Thoelstju came into prominence a month or two ago in connection with the German' peace campaign. He sought, and was refused, permission to enter England as an envoy of. the German Socialist's. At that time he freely expressed an opinion that the militarism of all the belligerents was equal, ridiculed the idea of a revolution in the' Central Empires, and urged America to promote a peace by negotiation. His attitude was so obviously unfriendly to the Entente and friendly to Germany at a time when militarism was still triumphant in that country that any action he may take in Holland, ostensibly 'in the interests of democratic reform, must be regarded with extreme suspicion. As matters stand it is not unlikely that German policy may be directed to creating conditions of revolutionary disorder over the widest possible area in Europe, in the hope that the result will be to weaken . the Allies in enforcing a just settlement of the war. On this account, as well as for the reason that Holland has nothing to gain and.much to lose by upheav.il and disturbance, the reported failure of Troelstka's revolutionary project may be regarded as good news.