The farmers in the Netherlands now have the same task as the farmer organization in Germany. Their experts state that it will be possible to feed the Dutch people with produce from their own soil, sufficiently but modestly.
We allowed the farmer to charge enough for their product so it would be a sufficient stimulant to get from the soil all that was possible. The prices are such that the food will not be expensive. According to these prices a kilogram potatoes will only be half a cent more expensive and a loaf of bread two cents. But more important is that there will be produced as much as possible and that this production will be introduced in the legal distribution system at legal prices. At the end this is a question of disciple of the Dutch people.
The frame of mind after May 15, 1940.
When the war ended after 5 days on the fifteenth of May, the Dutch people breathed more freely. The war was short, the losses comparatively small and the German soldiers behaved themselves, completely contrary to the horror propaganda of our enemies, they were very conciliatory
For those who had a deeper understanding. it was clear that this couldn't last very long. Because the Dutch -drawn from their tranquility and comfort into the development of world history, had to accept in the future a number of restrictions regarding economics and society, they stared an uncertain future in the face and were now exposed to the struggle of political forces. That the mood had to get worse was clear. What counted was if the Dutch people will maintain its attitude and discipline.
We do not demand a jubilant welcome and agreement. A process and situation which lasted for centuries can't be changed and deserted in a few months. However, we demand an orderly conduct. I believe that I may say that the levels of society which, from the viewpoint of the people, are the bearers of it-in particular the working people in the widest sense, in the factories, craftsmen and agriculture, have maintained this level- headed attitude.
One cannot say exactly the same from the circles of the intelligentia and of those levels which want to be considered as belonging to them.
It is not different here as it was in Germany: social, conventional, traditional; but above all capitalistic and class factions lead to a stiffening which, with exception of a relative small part which remained connected with the people, and the middle class in general was lagging behind.
Those who's pride is based on nothing, always stand in the first row. Resigned we will overlook this,we will continue our present attitude, when England lies down, crushed. In this respect is the attitude of the growing intelligentia typical.
The Netherlands and the Jewish problem.
As well known, in the Netherlands was a student strike at the universities of Leiden and Delft. motivated by the opinion that ordinances concerning the presence of jewish professors at the institutions of Higher Education, interfered with the liberties and the spiritual foundations of the Dutch life and society. This is a motive to explain my position regarding the jewish problem in Holland.
I state that my word: "we shall not oppose the Dutch people to thrust our convictions on them" is still valid, but only for the Dutch people. We consider the jews not as part of the Dutch people. For national- socialism and the national-socialistic Germany the jews are the enemy. From the moment of their emancipation they directed their aspirations to destroy the popular and moral values of the German people and instead of a nationalistic, responsible view of the world, they replaced it with international nihilism
In the years of World war I the fateful significance of the jewry for the German people became clear. They were it who sharpened the dagger and when thrust in the back of the German armies broke the resistance of the Germans and from the year 1918 on they tried to abolish and break down all traditional, popular, and the moral and religious values in the German people.
The jews are in our opinion not Dutch. They are the enemies with which we cannot come to an armistice nor to peace. This is operative, if you want, for the duration of the occupation. Do not expect from me an ordinance to settle this except political ones.
We will belt the jews where we find them and he who joins or helps them has to bear the consequences. The Fuhrer has said that the roll of the jews in Europe is finished and thus they are finished.
The only thing about which we can talk is the introduction of a tolerable transition while maintaining the position that the jews are enemies, therefore with all the prudence with which one deals with his enemies.
However, regarding the time when Germany does not have to maintain order anymore as an occupying power, then the Dutch people will have to choose if it wants to risk a friendly cooperation with the German people for the sake of the jews.
This attitude has nothing to do with tolerance. I have reflected very much upon the principle of tolerance as William of Orange made it as the basis for his political standpoint. It now became clear to me that the profound meaning and purpose of this principle and the categorical imperative was in the interest of the welfare of the Dutch when it was introduced. To prevent that the Dutch people were not torn apart it was imperative that the tolerance in religious matters would be made into a principle, dictated by the care for the people as the highest duty. Thus, the care for the well being of people is the responsible and deciding principle. The tolerance in religious matters is an injunction to the duty of the people. Tolerance for the sake of tolerance is, as a result of the, above mentioned, leaning to an idylle. I believe that, at this moment,we will find in the Dutch people much more division and negativism than tolerance. I remember a discussion I had with a politician who once was very prominent in this country and who told me that it was beyond his understanding that Catholic farmers could be led by Calvinistic leaders and Calvinistic farmers by Catholic leaders. My question if he could not see that Dutch farmers would be led by Dutch leaders was met with a total lack of understanding.
For the rest, regarding the jews, I would completely accept the situation in which they would now occupy the same social and political positions and would be subject to the same restrictions as they were in the times of William the Silent.
The young academicians.
Concerning the institutions for higher education, I do have the impression that we talk here about young people with a class-delusion, the same as it was in Germany in the past, who drift further and further from the common man, merely to become interested in paid positions, from civil servant to member of supervising councils. In Germany too we had this before the world-war. But this war awakened the German youth and steeled its courage, but before that part of our young academicians behaved the same way till the farmers and working people threatened drastically to take them over their knees and made them understand that they only studied at the universities to complete a thorough education in a time allotted for it. In order to become useful co-workers of society. The academic education is not a privilege but a duty. On the other hand I do not want to be mixed up in these things. I leave the development of this to the sound judgment and instinct of the Dutch people and to the revolutionary spirit of the renewal movement of the people. If I would be ill-disposed towards the Dutch people, than I would say: "You can keep your young academicians, they amount to nothing anyhow. From the standpoint of the occupation it is totally unnecessary that there should be institutions for higher education, but there must be tranquility and order.
Now that I am talking, in dealing with the discrete aspects of the field of higher education, to these deniers and no-Sayers, I would like to make the general remarks that there are surely not too many Dutch people who are always standing in the front line and who behave themselves like children in the rain and saying to each other: "Nice, I get wet for father". Well as far as I am concerned they may as well get wet. I do not entertain any fatherly feelings for the Dutch. Nevertheless I am prepared to have a companionable relationship based on the Germanic equality of rights if and when the other party behaves the same way Winterhelp is no charity.
In this connection, for instance, is the fate of the Dutch Winterhelp interesting. Above all I would like to make it clear that according to our conception Winterhelp has nothing to do with charity. Charity is social, political and confessional and is a means to attain social, political and confessional goals. I do not deny that in those circles there too are people who conduct themselves in a way, based on a real awareness of their responsibilities. However the institutions have, in reality, other designs. Winterhelp has nothing to do with charity; it arises from the sense of responsibility for the fellow-man and is the fulfillment of a higher duty. which is the result of a large measure of rights and assets. These charity organizations can and will, more often than not, be a cover for all kinds of machinations. Therefore they must be eliminated during the occupation. This was accomplished by Winterhelp. This institution was neutralized intentionally toward the German side. Therefore we have nothing to do anymore than the unavoidable attention demanded from the occupying forces. When our advice's, based on our experiences, can be of any help, we will feel gratified.
But this, neutral, Winterhelp, being exclusively the responsibility of the people and not charity anymore, does not seem to sit well with the Dutch. Of course, the craziest rumors were spread. The money was going to Germany. As though I. Commissioner of the State, had any need for, had to depend on these, with great effort and difficulties collected cents, dimes and guilders.
It is time that the German Winterhelp activities, which compared with last year showed a remarkable higher yield, for which result I will thank party members and directors from the bottom of my heart, shall send also Dutch children and mothers to the German recuperation centers.
Nevertheless: the Dutch Winterhelp is a success, the figures prove it. The total amount collected is already close to four million guilders; the collection in February shows he highest amount collected so far. The Dutch people may consider this development as a good sign.
The Labor Service.
Recently much had seen written about the Labor Service. This service is an excellent way of solidifying, steadying, etc., etc. of the people [whatever that means]. If our intentions with the Dutch would be bad, than under no circumstances the Dutch would have been allowed to start a Labor Service. Within our reach there are people which never will be granted this right or privilege, not because our intentions are bad. but because we cannot honor a claim from them on leadership because of their lack of Germanic substance.
The Labor Service however is an excellent training for leadership. Not long ago I read somewhere that the Labor Service could only have any significance if it was a strictly, definite Dutch service. I searched for a long time in this story for the explanation what should be understood by a definite service. I could not find it, apparently it was just only a remark.
And now I say to myself. What is the purpose of the Labor Service? It has to bring together the young people of a certain age, with disregard for social standing; the basic element of labor and working with soil and land is the perfect means of education. On top of that an education in discipline. In short. In that half year everybody forgets where he came from and he or she only feels himself as a young member of the people,who has learned an appreciation for real labor.
I believe that these basic principles are the same everywhere, at least in all Germanic countries. That the youngest generation had to be conscious about the fact that the home country is involved and that in the common education the beautiful folkssongs are sung, that this education in the Dutch Labor Service on Dutch soil and with the stimulation of the Dutch folkssongs happens, is clear. And this too leads to the education of the Dutch people. To say that the Labor Service in this respect has to be Dutch. Is superfluous. Because this result of education is, for the people's consciousness, in agreement with the essentials of the Labor Service.
Tuition in the Dutch and German languages.
Under no circumstances may be said that we neglect the significance of education. Those responsible for supplying this information are of the upmost importance. At the moment this situation in the Netherlands is in a deplorable condition when we see that 6000 teachers have no job or have to work under the most degrading circumstances. To improve this situation and in the same time improving the education, I have reached an agreement with the secretary-general of the Education Department about a measure that will be useful for the Dutch people. Under no circumstances do we intend to infringe on a custom considered to be of great importance as a result of the development of country and people. Therefore we did not meddle in the education by the clergy on other than convent-schools. However, based on the consideration that these men, because of their vows, want to live in poverty and that part of the money, allocated by the state for these teachers, does not go to these teachers, did we introduce a restriction in the salaries so we could be able to hire additional teachers with the money saved in this way. The result will be, on the one hand an intensification of the instruction through more school classes and on the other hand thousands of young men will be offered the possibility to start a family. The measure will be advantageous national as well as social for the Dutch people.