Netherlands History - Great War
The neutral position of Holland made it possible for her to assist very largely in mitigating distress in the belligerent countries, not merely by sending thither ambulances and aiding in the Relief Work in Belgium and Northern France, but also, and in a special degree, by welcoming the destitute Belgian refugees, who, to the number of over a million, fled for succor to Holland after the fall of Antwerp. Gradually most of these returned home, but even in 1917 and 1918 between 30,000 and 40,000 were still supported by the Dutch Government.
In September 1918 there came a fresh influx of refugees, numbering about 40,000, chiefly from Northern France, as a result of the evacuation caused by the retreat of the German army. On all these refugees the Dutch Government expended certainly some £5,000,000 sterling, which remain to the country's debit. To this were added many millions provided by private means. The exchanged British and German prisoners-of-war were also hospitably received.
After the fall of Antwerp, too, 30,000 Belgian and some hundreds of British soldiers were interned in Holland — at first in camps and afterwards scattered in various places where they could perform some suitable work. The number of German interned also assumed big proportions, no fewer than 10,000 deserters crossing the frontier. Finally, numbers of military and civil interned managed to escape from Germany into Holland, whither no fewer than 4,000 Russians fled.
Meantime, the elections of 1918 had produced a majority of the Right, which, though weak (51 to 49), enabled the Roman Catholic leader, Dr. Nolens, to form a Cabinet, inasmuch as the Liberals were split into eight groups by the new system of proportional representation and the Socialists had gained seats as a result of general suffrage. Since Dr. Nolens considered it undesirable that he, as a priest, should take a seat in the Cabinet, Dr. Ruys de Beerenbrouck acted as leader. It was the first time in Holland that a Government accepted responsibility under Catholic leadership.
This Government soon found itself faced with great general dissatisfaction as an outcome of the wartime distress. On the conclusion of the Armistice the desire for demobilization was so great that a serious mutiny broke out. The Social Democratic leader, Mr. Troelstra, announced a revolution in Parliament and demanded the resignation of the Government. But he was not supported either by his own party or by the workmen's organizations. There was a strong revival of patriotism, attachment to the reigning house and feeling for social order. Everywhere civil guards were formed.
The army was demobilized and measures were adopted for the benefit of the men. Besides this social reforms were promised. The danger of revolution, which raged close to the frontier, soon began to disappear. Moreover, an improvement in the supply of victuals was noticeable from day to day. The Government had acquired the prestige requisite to introducing important measures into the Second Chamber even with a wavering majority. These included old age and invalidity insurance (Talma Act, 1919), the eight-hour day and 45-hour week, and the Primary Education Act.
The Roman Catholic influence was evidenced, e.g. by the restoration of a permanent envoy to the Pope; this representation had lapsed in 1870 but had been re-instituted during the war, though only as a temporary measure with the object of cooperating in a possible effort at peace. Meantime, the peace negotiations at Versailles had raised fresh international difficulties for Holland, which gave van Karnebeek, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, an opportunity of demonstrating that he pursued a circumspect but persistent policy.
