DOES GERMANY MENACE HOLLAND?

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 415, 14 May 1902, Page 2

DOES GERMANY MENACE HOLLAND?

It is batl enough now-adays for a small nation to be in the way of a large one—especially if the small natioii is unable to get out of tl*e way But when the small nation is in the way of more than one large nation its position is not so dangerous as it might seem.! A small boy lias just found a desirable position to watch a ball game, we may say, .Several other boys gather around/ They are all larger than the small boy, and they all want the position, but each one is afraid to take it from the other small boy, because to do so would be to invite a conflict with all the other large boys. There are also moral considerations “to Keep the large boys from acting. The small boy secured the position first, and, therefore, has a right to it, unless he secured it or is using it unfairly. This is the case of Turkey 'in Europe to-ic.y. In a sense, also, it illustrates the case of Holland. There is no doubt whether Turkey has not forfeited her rights to her position, and yet the big be ys of Europe dare not acE As to Holland her rights remain unquestioned., so that to remove her would be to challenge the moral sense of the world. Moreover, neither England nor France nor Germany could afford' to permit a strong power tp acquire the mouth of the Rhine. Holland’s integrity would, therefore be assured. Probably it is assured* The only reason for question is the recent publication in Germany of a book, by Prof* Ernst Halle which advocates boldly the absorption of Holland, first economically and then politically, by Germany. Prof. Haile argues that Germany’s failure to.secure naval prestage is due to the position of Holland at the mouth of the largest German river, the Rhine. So he proposes that Germany at once negotiate with Holland a naval convention and a customs and a commercial union The book might not seem especially significant if it were not issued by the. official publishing house of the German War and Navy departments. Perhaps the book has been put out as a feeler. It is hardly imaginable that Emperor William contemplates anything more forceable than cajolery, if he has even that definitely in mind.