HOLLAND’S ATTITUDE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 6

HOLLAND’S ATTITUDE

j-JOLLANL) has made it plain that in the event of an aggressor State being one of her neighbours, she will not permit troops to pass through Dutch territory. This act of neutrality can be regarded as a good-neighbour policy toward Germany. The policy is a wise one from the standpoint of Holland itself. She. does not desire that her territory shall become the scene of battle operations if she can possibly avoid it. She desires to be at peace with Germany and particularly so at the moment, seeing that Czechoslovakia has had an unenviable experience. There is also the necessity for Holland not endangering her relationships with Fascist States and coming into disharmony with them, and thereby losing her possessions in the Pacific Ocean. Against a large Power Holland would be unable, of herself, to retain her present colonial possessions. She must, therefore, seek alliances where possible, but in the main she must walk warily between two major Powers, Great Britain and Germany, so to become identified with neither of them, but all of the time maintaining good relations with both. Great Britain’s traditional policy is to support Holland and Belgium, not in their interests, nor because they happen to be democracies, but because of the protection their existence provides Great Britain through keeping the east coast of Ihe North Sea out of the hands of n possible aggressor.