11 MAY 1944, Page 8

HOLLAND'S ENSLAVEMENT

By M. VAN BLANKENSTEIN

YEAR after year the commemoration of May Toth, the date of the German invasion of the Netherlands, has been a day of sad memory. This year that day has been heartened by the news of a recent symbolic event, the return of Dutch authority to Hollandia

in New Guinea. The place itself is but a meagre settlement, typical of that part of the world. Although there was still a part of Dutch New Guinea where the Japanese had not penetrated, the fact remains that Hollandia is the first piece of Dutch territory to be reconquered from the enemy, and this Allied conquest is, for the Netherlands, the first step, small though it be, along the lengthy road to liberation. The impression this has made on the-Dutch would not have been weaker even if the settlement had not been called Hollandia, a name which, rather surprisingly, is rarely met with in the Dutch Empire.

There is yet another reason for a commemoration happier than previous'ones. Liberation is clearly drawing near, though we cannor forget that it will probably be attended by an accumulation of sorrow for us all. Recently, however, Dutch circlei in London have been much heartened by the increasingly explicit eitchange of views be- tween the Dutch in occupied territory and the Dutch in London. The thriving secret Press, the clandestine writings and the authori- tative views of newly-arrived refugees have shown us that in spite of all oppression the Dutch people have remained true to themselves. They have learnt much from the war, as have all peoples, but at heart they have remained as democratic and as attached to their essential national traditions as ever.

The Germans began by treading warily, by preaching European solidarity, by using cunning propaganda to win the Dutch people over to the cause of Hitler's Germanic empire. Their efforts were in vain. The Dutch people never gave way to the intruders. There were always groups in the land who, through reactionary politics, or admiration for the German war-machine, or cultural links, had turned their faces towards Germany, but the vast majority of the peop'.e saw in the German a hateful contrast to themselves. The Dutch are individualists, averse from regimentation to the point of insubordination. Former republicans, they loathe feudal institu- tions and feelings. They may be attached to a dynastic monarchy, as is perhaps no other democratic nation, but only because that dynasty is imbued with the same " republican " spirit.

Not only were the Germans the treacherous enemy, they were also the despised enemy. To collaborate with them was to be a traitor, and furthermore to be an object of contempt. Resistance and sabotage began at once. In the autumn of 1940, a secret Press was already in existence. The barbarous treatment of the Jews gave rise to the first strike and to bloody conflicts which grew; into the great national strike of 1943, a protest against the deportation of Dutchmen as slaves to the German factories. This strike ended in heavy bloodshed, and it made the contrast all the more irreconcilable.

This contempt for the Germans originally caused much misery. The Boche was traditionally regarded as servile and stupid, but his slyness was underestimated. At first the organisation of sabotage and underground movements was apt to be considered more as a patriotic sport than as a dangerous undertaking. The Dutch lacked the experience that the Belgians had had in such matters. They were careless, talked too much, and there were many victims ; the underground Press alone has cost innumerable lives. But the lesson was learnt, though the price was high. Thousands of Jews who had escaped the battues of the Gestapo were kepi hidden by the rest of the population. Soon they were joined by tens of thousands of others who, for one reason or another, were sought by the enemy. It is remarkable that a land with so tight a rationing-system should succeed in feeding so many without the requisite documents. the Dutch police force has greatly distinguished itself. There may have been time-servers and traitors in its midst, but usually the police have enjoyed the fullest confidence of the people. Many members of the civil and the military police have had to go into hiding.

Meanwhile all political parties began to issue their clandestine papers, and obviously in this task were and are aided by the best journalists and politicians. In the same way, books and pamphlets are_ published. Certain of these publications are remarkably well produced and enjoy a considerable circulation. The secret Press appears in many hundreds of thousands of copies. The most im- portant of these papers and publications are received in London. The R.A.F. scatters London publications over Holland, so that the Dutch receive the papers and books published by the exiles. Broadcasting plays an important part in providing the Dutch people with information. In vain have the Germans ordered the confisca- tion of all wireless sets ; Radio-Orange remains the voice of the Government for the occupied territory. Radio-Orange also broad- casts the main contents of Vrij Nederland, the independent Dutch weekly in London. Recently, a pamphlet was jointly published in Holland by Calvinists, Catholics, Social-Democrats and Com- munists. This proof of unity, apart from the opinions expressed, has made a deep impression on Dutch circles in England.

It is true to say that the foreign policy of the Government coin- , cides with opinion in Holland. The Germans have tried to invoke the Bolshevist bogey, but in the above-mentioned pamphlet even the Catholics show their confidence in the new Russia. On funda- mentals there is virtually unanimity of opinion in Holland and in authoritative Dutch circles in London. The idea of annexing German territory, either to weaken Germany or to compensate Holland for damage and plunder, has been put forward, but is generally rejected. Security in the future is sought first, if possible, through a world organisation which should not lack elasticity, as did the old League of Nations. Many questions ought to be dealt with regionally. Holland herself belongs to three different regions: to an overseas-minded Western Europe, to the Southern Pacific region round the Malay Archipelago, and to the Western Hemir sphere by reason of Dutch Guiana and the Caribbean. At first a considerable volume of armaments will be needed, to which the Dutch hope to contribute their fair share. Should co-operation among the nations prove impracticable, Holland puts her faith in an alliance with the Anglo-Saxon world. With this purpose in view, a firm foundation is needed on the European continent, and this Holland and Belgium are already engaged in forming ; they have signed a treaty for monetary collaboration, and the technical diffi- culties in the way of a customs unions are being disposed of. The idea of pooling military resources and of a common defence plan has been well received ; the Lew Countries, a military unit with a

population of 18,00o,000, would constitute a not negligible bridge- head for the Anglo-Saxon world. To France it would mean a greatly strengthened flank.

Neutrality is dead. The concept of sovereignty will have to assume forms which break away from the slavish interpretation of that concept. Holland will be prepared to place bases at the dis- posal of her allies, in any part of her world empire, provided that this entails no modification of territorial rights, and provided that Holland herself is granted corresponding privileges by her allies. For the European part of the Netherlands, this would mean that the Allied air-force could, if necessary, avail itself of bases in Holland; and the same rights would be granted conversely, as the bridge-head is too shallow for modern air-warfare, and Holland would need, in the common interest, to have air-bases farther west.

Holland, moreover, would like to turn her face to the west in the economic field, possible only if the British Empire does not isolate itself, Ottawa-fashion, from the outer world, and if American politics make it practicable. Holland believes that she has the right to speak thus, as she has been consistent in applying the policy of the Open Door, both in the butch East Indies and in her traile policy at.home. However, the Dutch by no means intend to cut themselves off from the European Continent. With Central and Eastern Europe they have many and ancient relations, in particular with Russia ; with the' countries of East Central Europe they have common political interests, all being neighbours of Germany. The economic rela- tions between Holland and Germany are mutually important. Western Germany needs the Dutch waterways and is able to avoid them only by artificial and uneconomic means. As an economic bridge-head, the Low Countries form an important link between the Western world and the European hinterland.