NETHERLANDS, THE. 

 The imports and exports in 1874 and 1875 were valued as follows : 



541 



The commerce of the East Indian colonies 

 was as follows : 



In February, the Second Chamber of the 

 States-General ratified the treaty with Prussia, 

 regulating the connection of the Dutch with 

 the Prussian canals. In reply to an interpella- 

 tion, the Government stated that war material 

 had been shipped from Curacoa, at the request 

 of the Government of Hayti, and that it had no 

 official knowledge that these arms were intended 

 for Venezuela. Venezuela had offered to buy the 

 island of Cnracoa, but the Government had re- 

 fused this offer, and hoped that it would also be 

 refused by all succeeding Governments. The 

 Chambers adjourned on May 20th, after the 

 ministers had been severely censured by the 

 Chamber of Deputies. The elections for one- 

 half the members of this Chamber occurred in 

 tlie beginning of June, and resulted in a de- 

 cisive victory of the Liberal party. The ses- 

 sions of the States-General were opened again 



by the King in person on September 18th. In 

 the speech from the throne he stated that the 

 relations of his Government with foreign pow- 

 ers left nothing to be desired. The harvest was 

 sufficient, and the state of the finances satis- 

 factory. He eulogized the conduct of the naval 

 and military forces in Acheen, and pointed out 

 that no operations had been necessary for some 

 months past. It was hoped that after the sub- 

 mission of a few remaining districts it would 

 be possible to reduce considerably the forces. 

 The royal speech announced the presentation 

 of bills for increasing the number of deputies 

 and reforming the system of taxation. The 

 ministerial measures also included bills for the 

 execution of public works in Java, and for in- 

 creasing the supply of labor in Surinam. The 

 budget for 1878 was submitted to the Second 

 Chamber on September 25th. The Minister of 

 Finance estimated the total expenditure at 

 121,000,000 florins, and the revenue at 118,- 

 700,000 florins. The anticipated deficit of 

 7,800,000 florins depended mainly upon the 

 charges incurred by the war in Acheen, which 

 in 1876 cost 26,500,000 florins, and would prob- 

 ably cost as much in 1877. This charge would, 

 however, be diminished, should it prove pot- 



