THE EX-KAISER.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1920, Page 5

THE EX-KAISER.

EXTRADITION REFUSAL. THE REPLY FROM HOLLAND By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Jan. 24. The Hague correspondent of the Daily Express reports that Holland's reply to the Allies regarding the ex-Kaiser states that, as the Netherlands Government is not a party to the Peace Treaty, it cannot view the questions raised by the Powers except from the viewpoint of its own duties. The Government has no concern in the origin of the war, and with difficulty had maintained its neutrality to the end. Therefore, it faces the facts of the war in a manner differing from that of former belligerents. It energetically refutes all suspicion of wishing to cover by its moral authority violations of the essential principles of the solidarity of nations. If future international jurisdiction is created by the League of Nations competent to judge the facts, qualified as crimes and punishable hy statute, it rests with Holland to associate herself with the new system. The Government cannot, in the present instance, recognise any other duty than that imposed by the laws of the State and the national traditions. These have made Holland at all times a refuge for those vanquished in international conflicts, and do not allow the Netherlands Government to accede to the Powers' request to withdraw from the Emperor tie benefit of those laws and that tradition. This would be contrary to the laws of honor and the nation's respect, for which sacred duty the Netherlands people cannot betray the trust of those who confide themselves to its free institutions.

The Netherlands Government hopes that the Powers will recognise the soundness of these considerations, which are above all personal considerations.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

[Tuesday was ex-Kaiser Wilhelm'B 61st birthday. He was born on January 27, 1859, and is the eldest son of the late Friedrich 111, German Emperor and King of Prussia, who died on June'ls, 1888, 29 years after the cx-Kaiser's birth.]