The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1918. HOLLAND'S POSITION.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1918. HOLLAND'S POSITION.

The serious situation which haß arisen between Holland and Germany is one that has teen anticipated since the comj mencement of the war, but it is accentuI ated by the possibility of Germany coming to a definite decision that it is essential to her interests to possess an outlet to the 'North Sea by way of tlie Dutch coast as well as by the Flemish. The Pan-German claim for the annexation of Belgium may well have aroused a very real fear on the part of the Dutch that Holland would have to submit to the same fate if Germany so willed, and what the nature of the fate is can easily be ascertained by a study of Belgium's plight to-day. If Holland can tide over ■ her neutrality until the end of the war she will certainly escape the peril that is | now threatening, for even supposing the Germans were victorious, Holland would then have no difficulty in keeping on friendly terms with her powerful neighbor; while if the Allies won—as we confidently believe will be the case—Britain would certainly protect the Netherlands, provided the -Dutch did not alienate British goodwill by any act of treachery during the war. Holland has everything . to gain by remaining absolutely neutral, i So far she has steered clear of a breach » with Germany, but that ruthless Power, being a law unto herself, would net wait for an excuse for declaring war, . but would, if it suited her ends, make s use of Dutch territory at will, and tlie ® only way in which the lowlands could lie j protected would be by flooding them e from the sea. It may be that the Dutch Gov«czißsDt M more imprewwd with the

niiaht of Germany than the power of the Allies. At all events it behoves that Government to walk extremely warily, for having a land frontier to German territory for over three hundred miles, the risk of invasion and possible annexation is very great. On the other hand, to provoke the Allies by any act of treachery or hostility might easily lead to reprisals in the shape of the seizure of the valuable Dutch coloniesThe recent trouble over the utilisation of Dutch shipping by the Allies, including America, lias accentuated Holland's unenviable position and forced the Allies to adopt the extreme course of seizure, so that Germany could have no grievance against the Netherlands Government for a breach of neutrality. An a matter of fact the so-called seizure was merely nominal, Holland receiving adequate compensation. The formality relieved the Dutch of an awkward trouble, but the recent closing up of Ostend and Zeebruggo may precipitate German action in Holland. Although Holland possesses a militia and could probably raise an armed force of between two and three hundred thousand men, besides a navy of 117 vessels, her fighting strength is a mere negligible quantity as far as Germany is concerned. At the same time the Germans have already undertaken a larger row than they can hoe, and can therefore ill afford to undertake hostilities against Holland, whose one great effort has been, is, and will be to keep out of the war. The Dutch have grown fatter and more' prosperous than ever during the war, as a result of trade with Germany consequent on the blockade. What the extent of that trade was can be gleaned from the fact that American exports to Scandinavia and Holland had risen from nineteen and a half millions in 1913 to fiftyseven millions in 1915. I„ spite of this flagrant one-sided neutrality, which to an appreciable extent mitigated the severity of the Allies' blockade of Germany, Britain has treated the Netherlands with every consideration, and. will certainly continue in that magnanimous course. If, however, Germany in her desperation puts the screw on Holland and is allowed to make use of Dutch ports for the pui-pose of hostile operations against the Allies, then Holland becomes an enemy of the Allies and will as certainly lose her colonies as the daylight follows the darkness of night. Holland's future depends partly on her integrity and good faith, and partly oh German desperation. At present the Huns are displaying the mailed fist in order to intimidate the Dutch, but whether the latter will actually or professedly give way to pressure remains to . be seen. The position has certainly the ■ elements of a crisis such as Holland may ' well deplore, but a firm front may save . the situation, though in matters where . Germany policy is eoncerned it is ini- • possible to forecast what may happen. ! According to the latest cablegrams Hoi. . land seems determined to resist any • German invasion to the uttermost of [ l:«r power. This is the right course to . adopt and should prove a deterrent to a German offensive.