Page:Scented isles and coral gardens- Torres Straits, German New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies, by C.D. Mackellar, 1912.pdf/345

Rh matter to them, they say, what happens to other countries, so long as they are left in peace, they quite forgetting that any war between two Great Powers in Europe must affect them, and seriously. Who can say what is coming? For instance, many Dutch people have said to me that, in the supposition of a war between Germany and Great Britain, the British would defend them. Per- haps so—let us hope the British could. But the Netherlands must wake up and show where her friendship lies if she wishes to secure that friendship in time! There is no use in locking the stable door when the steed is stolen.

I can imagine nothing better for the Dutch East Indies and their people, and for the Nether- lands herself, than that Queen Wilhelmina should come out and visit all her wonderful possessions here. Hers would be the vivifying touch some- what needed now; she would be received with the most unbounded enthusiasm and wildest joy, and how proud, how rightly proud, she would be to see the interesting races she rules over with both wisdom and kindness, and the glorious rich lands which hail her queen. Here she would make a truly Royal triumphal progress, and it is just the thing that is needed. May I be here to see if it ever happens. I have had glimpses of that young Queen when she was a mere child and as she grew up, shouted myself hoarse as I stood amongst her people at the time of her enthronement and the heralds came out on the palace balcony at Amsterdam to proclaim her titles, and saw the young Queen herself in her Royal robes come out and stand alone before her people—the “phlegmatic Dutch”—how they cried, sang, shouted, and went mad with joy! It was a beautiful sight, a stirring moment. Let the Queen come and be honoured and acclaimed all her route till