HOLLAND AND GERMANY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 15, 19 January 1916, Page 7

HOLLAND AND GERMANY.

DUTCH PAPERS SPEAK OF ' ‘ SHAMELESS TRAFFIC. ’ 7

Remarkable alKegations of favouring the Germans and failing to preserve neutrality are levelled at the Netherlands Government by the Dutch journals, the Avondpost and the Telegraaf. The Avondpost frames the following indictment:—

‘‘The Netherlands Government delays the dispatch of telegrams advising England that airships, about to bombard English towns, have flown over Dutch territory.

“Holland intercepts all information, direct or indirect, destined to acquaint England with the movements of German troops. Holland receives from Germany messages of thanks for the aid given to German airmen who are wrecked in the North Sea."

The Avondpost adds that it does not doubt that the Dutch Government

will defend the neutrality of the Noth

erlands, but fails to understand why the Government should allow German airman airships to fly over the country, while it does not permit England to be informed of these flights. ‘ ‘ HIDEOUS SPECTACLE. ’ ’

The Telegraaf bluntly accuses the Dutch Giovernmcnt of complicity with Germany.

“A reign of terror,” it says, “prevails in Belgium, and the Dutch people look on at the hideous spectacle, their hands folded over pockets filled with gold. A few years ago a cordial friendship existed between Belgium and Holland. Yc-t at this moment we allow our sister to be throttled.

“The times have passed when a pcopife urged by a noble and humane impulse went forth to battle, and it would therefore be vain to expect suedi idealism on the part of the Dutch nation, which is enriching itself by the wa r. “There is one thing, however, which we insist on with all the fore? and energy we are capable of, and that is that this nation of tradesmen, which is abandoning itself utterly to a shameless contraband traffic, should maintain the strictest neutrality. “Has the Netherlands Government already arrived at this point that ah' its Ministers should blindly obey its scandalously pro-German Premier? “We have actually lived to see the day when a Dutch Government orders the arrest of the Dutch agent of an English factory, when a search is made in his house, and when our workmen are prevented from working in this factory, whereas for months past German agents by the hundred carry on their business of every description here.”