The position of Holland as a neutral state is one of increasing
difficulty. She has no desire to join in the war on either side; all
she asks for is to be left alone to pursue her own mercantile path and
to maintain the rights and privileges of her kingdom. Naturally enough,
however, she feels very uneasy at the close proximity of a power like
Germany, which has shown how little the independence of nationalities
is regarded in her military councils. Holland, it must be remembered,
has the example of Belgium before her eyes. She knows therefore what
it must mean to be overrun by Hunnish hordes, and to lose at once the
vitality of her national life and the security of her towns.
Raemaekers’ picture graphically depicts the efforts that are being
made by German agents to convert Holland’s neutrality into an active
support of Berlin. The German oculist trying on spectacles persuades
his patient that the Dutch cry “Oranje Boven” is synonymous with
“Deutschland über Alles.” In the earlier stages of the war it did not
interfere with German projects that Holland should remain neutral, for
hers was a useful country through which to import the various supplies
of munitions and food which Germany needed. Now, however, that the
stringency of the British blockade has so largely interfered with the
transit of goods, Germany may discover it to be to her advantage to
possess Holland as an Ally. Hence the zeal of the Teuton oculist and
his insidious attempts to make the Dutchman see things as Germany sees
them. The fact is, of course, that the possession of the Dutch coast
line would add not a little to German facilities in her submarine and
Zeppelin attacks.