“But if, on the other hand, England were to be paralysed, no defence of Holland would be possible; France could not undertake it alone, much as it would be to her interest; and what other Powers would be capable of resisting?

“Of course, it may be urged, the German Emperor would never do such a thing.  Perhaps not, he is not immortal however, and there is no knowing what may be done by his successors.  Besides, by his friendship with Abdul-Hamid, he has shown himself capable of sacrificing everything to the greatness of his Empire.  It would in all probability be unnecessary to resort to force; there are less brutal ways just as efficacious.  In the event of Germany possessing undisputed preponderance, with no counter-weight, she will bring an irresistible pressure to bear upon Holland, as did Russia to poor Finland, and induce her to join the Germanic Confederation.  When, therefore, Holland upholds the Transvaal, and seeks to annihilate England, she, like the Boers, though in a different manner, is working for “the King of Prussia".”

I earnestly recommend this passage in M. Ed. Tallichet’s article to the attention of my fellow-countrymen; the folly which dominates our foreign policy, alarms me as much as that which caused the innocence of Dreyfus to be denied for years, by Ministers, the etat-major, and many millions of Frenchmen.  Justice was sacrificed by them to paltry considerations, and to-day those of us who are infatuated with sympathy for the pillaging policy of the Boers seem to have set up as their ideal the completion of the disaster of 1870!

M. Ed. Tallichet’s article should be read and carefully considered by all who take an interest in the future of Europe.  The question is presented by him fully and clearly; there is no trace of sympathy for or antipathy to Boers or British; the fate of France, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, is equally discussed.  Their position is linked with England’s power; any injury to her power would weaken any of the smaller countries above-mentioned, and be a source of danger to France.

[Footnote 26:  Le Siecle, March 14th, 1900.]

APPENDIX B.

DR. KUYPER’S ADMISSION.

I. Offer to Dr. Kuyper to reproduce his article.—­II.  Dilatory reply of Dr. Kuyper.—­III.  Withdrawal of Dr. Kuyper.—­IV.  M. Brunetiere’s refusal.—­V.  The Queen of Holland and Dr. Kuyper’s article.

OFFER TO DR. KUYPER.

On March 25th I addressed the following registered letter to Dr. Kuyper: 

     March 25th, 1900.

     SIR,

     I have the honour to send you the numbers of Le Siecle containing
     a criticism of your article, “La Crise Sud-Africaine,” which
     appeared in the Revue des Deux Mondes.