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Show PROTESTING DUTCHMAN. That the Netherlands are not unmindful unmind-ful of the rather contemptuous regard in which they are held as a nation by the outside world is evidenced by the profusion of apologies coming from that direction. No sooner does a citizen of the Low Countries set foot in America than he undertakes to explain the attitude atti-tude of Holland in relation to the allies al-lies and the world War. - Hardly a pub-lie pub-lie man in Holland but, when he deals with this subjetet, does so in similar vein. The burden of the explanations is of a common sort. The people are and have been pro-ally, but tho government govern-ment was forced to be friendly to the central powers. Holland was in a singular sin-gular position. She is a small, but weak, country; Germany was strong and great. Holland was menaced, aud prudence suggested the course which she adopted, that of doing nothing which would subject sub-ject the Netherlands to the treatment accorded Belgium. Now that the war, happily, is ended, Holland recognizes that, while her conduct may have alienated alien-ated considerable of the kindly regard formerly entertained for her by the world, still, all things considered, hei people are right at heart, and, to prove it, the government is anxious to have Tho Hague or some other Dutch city selected as tho seat of the league of nations na-tions w-hen that blessed society of nations na-tions becomes an established fact. And mere to the same effect. The truth is that the Dutch government govern-ment has not only been decidedly pro-German pro-German ever since tho outbreak of the war, but behind the government stood tho Netherlander in united support ot a policy which would save Holland from the devastation of war, at whatever cost. The parliamentary election established estab-lished the fact of that popular support, aud, if ever there was a voice raised in the Dutch national legislature for a firm stand against German threats it was so feeble as not to reach beyond I the boundaries of the kingdom. The reigning dynasty is involved by marriage mar-riage with the discarded Teuton royalty, and the ministers of the crown firmly resisted every proposal to reassert Holland's Hol-land's rights wheu Germany was in-'eluding in-'eluding Dutch shipping among tho ear-( ear-( gees sent to the bottom of the seas in j her unspeakable submarine warfare. Holland is a small country, but so is Belgium; but the Belgians lost no time in defending her sovereignty when the 'Huns undertook to violate it. Belgium j sin tered 1 ill. ht f ill ly as a result of her ! intrepid l"yaity, but she won hnperish-; hnperish-; able i-lory by iier sacrifice. Serbia also (is a small anil weal; nation, but the illustrious defense of her rights when ' thev wese assailed by Austria will not be i'oi-L'utten while the memory of man J runs. Belgium was not estopped by j German threats, nor was Serbia frightened fright-ened iuto acquiescence by the fe:ir ot Austiiau vengeance. Holland, however Icalinly swallowed every affront. The weak-kneed Dutch government was! even unable to screw its courage to the '. point reached by Norway, which at least protested energetically every Hun outrage out-rage affeenng herMnterests, albeit the protest was accompanied by nothing more formidable. As fur Sweden, it has been accused of strongly pro-German sympathies; but at least her statesmen states-men and leading business men are not : apologizing for their conduct. ' The Dutch government came very near to trouble with the United States lover the matter of seized bottoms, and just now it is engaged iu a Controversy with Belgium concerning boundary ; lines which the peace conference of j Paris does not propose to deal with, on the ground that disputes involving neutral neu-tral boundaries are not matters for the i conference to consider. The contention is not likely to lead to grave eonse-' jquences, but it indicates a purpose on the part of Holland to continue her I policy of profiting without expense. The allies beat down the German danger dan-ger without Holland 's material or moral assistance, and accordingly owes nothing noth-ing to the Netherlands other than a wish that in the readjustment of the world's affairs she may share in the ! general benefits hoped to be attained. There is no disposition to hamper Hol-lland Hol-lland in the realization of any rightful I aspiration she may entertain, but it may be suggested that this series of I apologies for Holland's course during jthe war is a trifle wearisome. The . story is written and cannot be effaced. |