Page:History of India Vol 7.djvu/91

 DUTCH POLICY AS TO EASTERN TRADE 61 seen, it united the Indian Companies in the several states into one Joint Stock Association under the title of the United East India Company, with an exclusive monopoly of the Indian trade for twenty-one years, dating from January 1, 1602. The combination was compulsory, as any company which refused to join would be ipso facto shut out from the Indian trade. On the other hand, the Dutch gov- ernment behaved liberally to the separate organizations, and took over their directors for life into the joint directorate of the United Company. In this way the number of directors of the United Company, although fixed in permanence under the charter at sixty, was at first seventy-three. All this will become clear to any one who will take the pains to consult the Dutch records on the subject. In a similar spirit the joint directorate was divided into six chambers, representing the six subscribing states in proportion to the amount which they severally contributed to the common capital. This representa- tive principle was carried still further in the executive Committee of Seventeen entrusted with the management of the United Company's expeditions. Sixteen of its members were taken from the six subscribing provin- cial centres in direct ratio to their contributions, while the seventeenth was appointed by the minor states in succession. The government had close relations with the per- sonnel of the directorate. Reports were made to the States-General; accounts were to be submitted to them;