November 2, 1916 
LAND & WATER 
13 
" under " her rule by means of a Zollverein, which other- 
wise will surely be her method to regain strength for a 
renewed attempt to carry out the pan-German ideal ; 
especially if Prussia should remain the predominant 
partner in the (German Empire. One cannot expect a 
quick change of the character of a people like the Prussians. 
1 would like to see, what we have advocated in our 
paper, that all still neutral free nations, who value 
their national freedom and independence join the 
Allies, thereby finishing the war so much sooner 
in the only way that the safety of the world de- 
mands, and; fighting together, estabhsh a permanent 
League of Free Nations to keep Germany in check until 
she is thoroughly cured of her vain ambition. The de- 
struction of lives and wealth would not become greater if 
all neutral countries joined the Allies ; it would become 
actually less, by overwhelming Germany quicker. 
But 1 would hold that, even without fighting, the neutral 
nations could help to finish the crushing of Germany's 
evil power sooner, by breaking off all connections with 
her and stopping all supplies to her. One single country 
doing that might suffer for it, although hardly more 
than Germany makes them individually suffer now. But 
acting together, she would be powerless to do them much 
harm. Not only would that be an historic act of solidarity 
for Right and Justice, but the neutral countries would be 
fully justified to take those steps. 
1 he Germans have a sense of humour, which is tragical 
to others and yet tolerated. All neutral countries of 
Europe have, with supplies of foodstuffs and other things 
they produced, sustained Germany in her struggle for 
domination. Take the case of Holland. From there 
more foodstuffs have gone and are still going to Germany 
than the Dutch people can afford to spare. In a country 
like Holland, which, with the exception of wheat, pro- 
duces more foodstuffs than her own people can consume, 
there ought not to be, but there has actually been, much 
scarcity of foodstuffs, of which the prices have risen 
considerably. Not long ago the price of potatoes was 
double the pre-war price, thovigh the production of 
potatoes was more than required for home consumption. 
So much of it was exported to German}', partly in the 
form of potato-meal. Just now there is scarcity of fat 
in Holland for the same reason. Although the Dutch 
Government kept control over pork, people find a 
way to gain the high prices German^' offers for fat. Pork 
is melted, mixed with impure fat, then as " technical 
fat " supplied to soap- factories, and that soap is with 
(iovernment consent exported to (iermany. A Dutch 
expert recently revealed that trick in the Telcgraaf. 
Now, neutrals have a perfect legal right to sell their 
produce to any belligerent who offers the highest prices. 
But from a moral point of view, which ought to count 
in a war like this not less than material advantages, such 
acts are deplorable. Our great coimtryman Grotius, 
three centuries ago, laid down a lofty maxim for the 
conduct of neutrals towards belligerents. He wrote, 
that " neutral peoples were bound to abstain from doing 
anything to strengthen those whose cause is bad." In- 
dividually we like to sacrifice something for a good cause, 
and we dislike to profit by a bad cause. Why should 
not nations follow that precept ? Besides, while neutrals 
help to sustain the power that provoked the war, they 
complain about its long duration. Wliy then not help 
to shorten the struggle by withholding supplies from 
those " whose cause is bad ? " And what thanks do they 
get from Germany ? 
While the Dutch people arc paying high prices for 
their own foodstuffs, because so much of it is sent to 
Germany, she sinks Dutch steamers on their way with 
cargoes of wheat, consigned to the Dutch Government 
for distribution in Holland. Last year that happened 
with the Katwijk, and quite recently again with the 
Blonimcysdijk. Another steamer, the Lodewijk van 
Nassau, was last year sunk by a German mine with a cargo 
of saltpetre, which Dutch agriculture badly needed for 
manure. " We have already," said the Tclegraaf on 
October 14th, " lost the Medea and the Katwijk, de 
Palemhang, Tuhantia, Berkelslroo)n and many smaller 
ships. And how many others were lost by striking German 
mines ? Our merchant fleet is paralysed, and nothing 
can compensate the loss suffered by our trade. Even if 
every lost ship and cargo was paid according to the value 
it is impossible to compensate the loss of millions and 
millions of guilders to our trade, because many of our 
best ships were destroyed, while we have not the oppor- 
timity to build new ships for Germany withholds from us 
the necessary material. Thus we are curbed. While 
Germany has destroyed already an important part of 
our merchant fleet and withholds from us the necessary 
material to build new ships, she is feverishly expandirig 
her own merchant fleet." 
Destruction of Neutral Steamers 
It is really surprising, that neutrals stand almost any- 
thing from Germany. They make a fuss about the inter- 
ference of their mails, which Germans flagrantly misuse. 
But the destruction of numerous neutral steamers with 
the loss of many neutral lives, evokes but protests on 
paper, to which Germany pays no heed whatsoever. 
She simply plays with neutrals. 
Her warfare with mines is even worse than with 
submarines, because it enables her to deny responsibility 
for the ships and lives lost. Only two weeks ago the Dutch 
steamer Fortuna was sunk by a German mine, fourteen 
men of the Dutch crew lost their lives, including the cap- 
tain. Germany has not given Holland satisfaction for the 
sinking of the Tubantia and Palembang, although it was 
proved that those steamers were sunk by submarines. 
How can Holland expect satisfaction for the loss of the 
Fortuna and fourteen lives through a secretly placed 
German mine ? And then remember the fine words, 
used in 1907 at The Hague by Baron Marschall von Bie- 
berstein, who found that a formal prohibition to place in 
time of war mines in the open sea was really super- 
fluous, because there were in his opinion other factors 
than the stipulations of International Law. He de- 
clared : " The conscience, the good sense and the per- 
ception of the duties imposed by the principles of human- 
ity, will be the surest guide for the conduct of naval men 
and constitute the most efficient guarantee against abuse." 
And loudly he added, that " the officers of the German 
fleet will always adhere in the strictest manner to cUities 
which result from the unwritten law of humanity and 
civilization." 
How has Germany befooled the whole world and put 
her off with fine words, pledges and promises which, 
as we have seen, were never meant to be kept. Will th^ 
neutral world stand that any longer ? If so, they must 
expect more insults and injuries from that country, 
which knows no Right but Might, and which recognises 
no law on earth, be it written or unwritten. Neutral 
countries can still save part of their lost prestige by 
throwing in their lot with the Alhes, for which due 
self-regard for their highest interests and the pact they 
helped to make at the Hague give them the best possible 
motive. To maintain neutrality still longer is nothing 
but pusillanimity. To take part in the great struggle 
for right and justice and national liberty may entail 
sacrifices, but they will be rewarded by increased vigour, 
uplifted prestige, and lasting honour. I say again : there 
is something dearer than life, and it is nobler to fight for 
Right than to submit to Wrong. Though the fate of 
Belgium and Serbia has been tragic, they will survive 
as stronger and more exalted nations. And Holland's 
history of her eighty years of war proves how stimulating 
and inspiring is a fight for Liberty and Right. 
As we have said all this just as plainly in our own 
paper, the Amsterdam Tclegraaf, I see no reason not to 
repeat it in L.w'n & W.^thr to a wider world. 
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