Mr. Kruger has been received by the Queen of Holland,
but received no promise of aid ; and in a subsequent visit from the Foreign Minister it was pointed out to him that while the Dutch sympathised with his cause, they could take no initiative in asking for arbitration. A Dutch Deputy who talked to a representative of the Daily News gave him some curious information. He declared that even Cabinet Ministers believed that Great Britain in her irritation at her ill success in South Africa would declare war on Holland in order to seize Java ! The very idea strikes English. men, who gave up Java to the Dutch in 1816, as too absurd for discussion, but it is certain that fear of Mr. Chamberlain's graspingness is a strong factor in Continental opinion. There are grave men who believe that the Colonial Secretary would annex the moon if he could. The belief has its root in recent successes, but it is so confidently entertained that the French are fortifying Madagascar against a British descent. If the Dutch wish to make friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness in good time they should court Australia. Whenever the Southern Continent is independent it will look upon the long double line of islands between itself and Asia as its natural heritage.
