ABSTRACT
It was early in 1890 that the European outlook showed decided symptoms of war. The position of England towards Germany had for some months previous been strained. The occupation of Holland by German troops, which had been effected in a week, and without conflict or bloodshed, had provoked a strong outburst of popular feeling in our country. The King of Holland, and the members of his family who had fled from the Hague on the approach of the German troops, had been received in England with many demonstrations of sympathy. The annexation of the Dutch provinces to the empire which quickly followed upon their occupation caused the popular ferment to find vent in loud and bitter denunciations against the insatiable ambition and restless militarism of Germany. It was determined that whatever might happen to the kingdom of Holland, the colonies and foreign possessions of the Dutch should not pass under the dominion of the Kaiser; the rich island of Java, the valuable colony of Guiana, the Dutch possessions in the Eastern Archipelago, and the other islands and settlements belonging to Holland were accordingly declared to be under the protection of Great Britain; a strong naval squadron was despatched to the Eastern seas, garrisons from the West Indies were ordered to take possession of Guiana, and a vote of five millions was obtained for placing the naval and military services in a state of efficiency. But now all at once there arose in England a conflict of opinion between the two great political parties, which stayed the prosecution of really vigorous measures of defence.
