The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1916. DUTCH NEUTRALITY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 27, 7 January 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1916. DUTCH NEUTRALITY.

Dutch newspapers have been pointing out the pro-German flavour their Government is giving to its neutrality and its action with regard to the air raids on Britain is certainly rather one-sided. The German Zeppelins fly over Holland on their way to the baby-killing feats which Germany delights in, and not only does the Dutch Government permit this, or at any rate, if its own newspapers are to be believed, takes no steps to check the pirate aircraft, hut in addition, it prohibits the publication in Holland of any news regarding the flight of German Zeppelins over Dutch territory for six hours after the passage. It also prevents the despatch of telegrams from Holland reporting the passage of Zeppelins. The military commanders in the northern Dutch islands have also prohibited the telegraphing of news regarding the passing of German airships to other parts of Holland. It is suggested that the prohibition is apparently prompted by a desire on the part of the Dutch authorities to do nothing that may prejudice Germany's air-raid arrangements. It i s no wonder that some of the Dutch journals are saying that whatever the Dutch Government may intend its policy appears to incline to the German side. One of these fine days, when a big fieet of British airships decides on reprisal, and takes the upper air of Holland en route for Germany, it is to be hoped that the officials will bo discreetly neutral enough to extend to Britain the same kindly consideration. The Dutch people and the Dutch press would appreciate this, but there may be a German pull in the Government. The diplomatic cunning of Berlin is not likely to have overlooked anything in that direction.