This was not our attitude in the case of Belgium only.  It was an attitude which we adopted with regard to all the minor Powers of Western Europe when they were threatened by Napoleon.  On precisely the same grounds England defended in 1803 the independence of Holland, a commercial rival if an old political ally, and of Switzerland, where she had no immediate interests to protect.  By the Treaty of Luneville (February, 1801) France and Austria had mutually guaranteed the independence of the Batavian Republic and the right of the Dutch to adopt whatever form of government seemed good to them.  In defiance of these stipulations Napoleon maintained a garrison in Holland, and forced upon her a new Constitution which had been prepared in Paris (November, 1801).  Identical stipulations had been made for the Helvetian Republic and had been similarly violated.  Early in 1803 England demanded that the French should evacuate Holland and Switzerland:  to which Napoleon replied that ‘Switzerland and Holland are mere trifles’.  His interview with the English Ambassador on March 13, 1803, has many points of resemblance with the now famous interview of August 4, 1914, between Sir Edward Goschen and Dr. von Bethmann-Hollweg.  The First Consul then, like the Imperial Chancellor to-day, was unable, or professed himself unable, to understand why Great Britain should insist upon the observance of treaties.

To return to Belgium.  It became apparent in the Napoleonic Wars that Belgium and Holland were individually too weak to protect themselves or the German people against an aggressive French Government.  The allies therefore, in the year 1813, handed over to Holland the Austrian Netherlands and the bishopric of Liege in order ’to put Holland in a position to resist attack until the Powers could come to its aid’.  This arrangement was ratified at the Treaty of Chaumont (1814).  As there was no government or visible unity in the Belgian provinces after the retirement of the French, the union with Holland, originally suggested by Lord Castlereagh, seemed reasonable enough.  It gave the Belgians the great privilege of freely navigating the Scheldt.  It was confirmed at the Congress of Vienna, and the new kingdom of the United Netherlands was declared neutral by the common consent of the Powers.

But the events of the years 1815-1830 proved conclusively that this union was unsatisfactory to the Belgian population.  The Belgians complained that they were not allowed their just share of influence and representation in the legislature or executive.  They resented the attempt to impose the Dutch language and Dutch Liberalism upon them.  They rose in revolt, expelled the Dutch officials and garrisons, and drew up for themselves a monarchical and parliamentary constitution.  Their aspirations aroused much sympathy both in England and in France.  These two countries induced the other Great Powers (Austria, Prussia, Russia) to recognize the new kingdom as an