After the German_attempt to capture the Queen of Holland, it was only natural that she should seek safety in Great Britain where she has been accorded a hearty and sympathetic welcome, It would have been a major disaster if she had fallen into the hands of the enemy, for it would have enabled them to confuse the situation by issuing orders purporting to come from her which might have seriously hampered the Hollanders in the defence of their country. The continued existence of the Netherlands Government, even though it is established for the time being on foreign soil, ensures the maintenance of complete Netherlands sovereignty in exactly the same way as the Belgian government continued to function during the last w after King Albert had been forced to leave hi country. With the Netherlands' Government still in existence there can be no reason whatever for anyone to interfere with the status quo of the Netherlands East Indies, the fate of which has so closely concerned all the Powers interested in the Pacific. It is now quite plain that the British and French Governments will not interfere with the sovereign rights of their Ally in this respect, and it only remains for Japan to realize that fact. It is entirely in the interests of the Netherlands and its Allies that the former's colony in the East should continue to do business with everyone as it has hitherto. That course would indeed continue to serve the purposes of both Japan and the United States, both of whom are large customers. The recognition of the continuance of Netherlands sover-eighty removes any, and every excuse for interference with the status of the Netherlands East Indies, and makes it possible that the various assurances which have been given by ihe various Powers, will be Observed in their entirety. Recognition of this fact should serve greatly to allay anxiety in the Pacific, and at the same time prevent an extension of war to this part of the world.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.