What the Dutch Underground Wants

...This 1* rather strange, sine* at that time the Communist leaders together with the Dutch Nazi leader* were interned by the government a* element* dangerous to national defense...

...Communists have never played any important role in Holland...

...After 1918, however, "movement" for autonomy arose in Rennes, the capital of the old duchy...

...They published a magazine, "Breis Atao," which tried to itir up latent regional patriotism...

...The Social-Democratic opinion is determined by a realization that after the war the role of the state is bound to incresse...

...His article ia conspicuous for its recommendation that the contemporary state should repudiate the principle of neutrality...

...As liberstion of Normandy progressed, resistance activity in Brittany intensified...

...It is interesting to note that they see a direct connection between their present proposals and the "Labor Plan," which they set forth s few years before the war...

...Apart from this, it distinguishes between the form and content of democracy, and looks for meana to prevent the abuse of democratic form at the expense of genuine liberty...

...f The Bretons, proud of their past and their traditions, have always been exceedingly regionalistic...

...Isolated by the character of the peninsula, whose forbidding, treacherous coasts and rocky, stern interior discouraged invation, the Bretons spoke their own language, worn the costumes of their ancestors, maintained the old customs and superstitions of their forbears...

...This article, in conformity with the others in the pamphlet, elaborates on measures to be taken for the elimination of the shortcomings of democracy and parliamentsrianism which before the war undermined the principles of freedom and of people's sovereignty...

...One has to recall the almost boundless freedom of the press which exisied in Holland, to realize the evolution that has taken place there, raw * * * 1 HE contribution of the representative of the Catholics .it remarkable in another respect...

...to ward off bareeacrstisation, and at the aame time to make feasible the task of eetabliehing order la and control of social and economic life...

...In the economic field tho Dutch Communists, unlike their American comrade*, aim at the socialisation of the moat important enterprises, but formulate no concrete measures, thus attaching to this demand a merely propagandist value...

...However, the editors believe that democracy will be equal to this historic test...

...Lack of space does not permit a consideration of the Social-Democrats' views on small enterprises, on the struggle against unemployment, and so on...

...Thus collectivization of the management of the means of production would be achieved...

...Despite the subversive efforts of the "autonomists," in 1939 there were probably not more than 50 separatists in all of Brittany...

...Jointly with the trade unions, tha "production uniona" would fix wages...

...Brieux have fallen to the F.F.I...

...Yet, with . the approaching- defeat of Germany, it ia important U» anderttand the mind* of tha men who are waging the unequal struggle against the invader...

...Yet the baaic and the most valuable contribution of the Social-Democrats consists in the plan for the reconstruction of Holland's social and economic life...

...Sabotage of railways, communicatons, and waterways increased...

...to disburden the parliament of unnecessary work...

...It advocates the liquidation of denominational trade unions and the creation of united trades organizations for all workers, regardless of creed...

...The "Anti-Revolutionary Party" suggests a series of technical measures for the defense of the democratic principles...

...They term these dangers "bureaucratization," and are in quest of political forms, which, while meeting the new demand for planning, protect the initiative and freedom of the individual from the threat presented by the bureaucratic apparatus...

...The frequent changes of governments hindered the normal performance of state functions...

...Furthermore, the- democratic constitution waa quite helpless sgainst its convinced enemies, who availed themselves of democracy for the purpose of destroying it...

...A I.I...

...The pamphlet bears the title: The Future «/ Holland, and, besides s preface, it carriea articles written by representatives of the moat important Dutch parties, namely, the "Anti-Revolutionary" (a strictly Calvinist Party, whose leader, tha former Premier, Colijn, has been deported to Germany), Catholic, Protestant-Christian, Social-Democratic and Communist Parties...

...A definite pattern of regionalist propaganda became evident, a pattern which was planned to lead to Internal dismemberment of France...

...We expect," they say, "that the socialisation of management will automatically lead to the socialization of private ownership of the main means of production...

...A similar trend is voiced by the representative of the Protestant-Democratic Party...

...AfTER the fall of France, the Germans tried hard to win the support bf the Bretons, calling them "of German root...

...For Brittany, the theme was its "critic, ai .van, non-French" character...

...This teak ¦heel* be estreated to orgasm which, wo saggest, ehoald be caBod 'prodoctioa oaiona' (berdrijfshap...

...T...

...The production volume, prices, social conditions of labor, and, accordingly, to a large extent the value of production—all these would cease to be the prerogative of the owner, and would be transferred to the domain of the "production unions...

...The Social-Democrats do not propose as their immediate aim the collectivization of private property over th* mean* of production...

...Scattered German garrisons in towns by-passed by the Americans have been wiped out by the patriots...

...At the same time they are aware of the dangers inherent in this process...

...This writer is prejudiced in favor of Holland...

...The function of the trade uniona would change: they would become the acknowledged representatives of the worker...

...convoys of vana loaded with German food and supplies were "requisitioned...

...Unlike other occupied nations, Holland has not severed ties with the pre-war times, snd the basic political currents hsve maintained some organizational ties...

...The party advocates toleration in public life, yet it maintains that the state cannot take a similar or indifferent attitude toward the, various political currents...

...Delegatee of the "production unions" would constitute a "General Social and Economic Council" functioning as a deliberative body attached to Parliament...

...Resistance Within Brittany from the French Information Service AS Allies force* blotted out German garrisons on the Brittany peninsula, Breton resistance as-¦ sumed its status aa a part of the regular French army—the French Fdrcea of the Interior...

...The few yeers which he spent in that country, particularly the eighteen montha following the German invasion, left an indelible impression on him...

...Tab tarsi is heeeasiag mere sad store common...

...It is noteworthy that the Communist opinion is also represented in the pamphlet...

...Bursting out of hiding, free of the necessity for concealment, French patriots, armed by the Allies, intensified their activity...

...But even the coolest observer will share his appreciation of Holland'* role in Europe, particularly of the part played in the struggle against the Naiia...

...The party is prone to limit the freedom of the individual, of the press and assembly to the extent that this limitation is needed in the community's interest...

...It is further noteworthy that they declare themselves definitely opposed to the idea of s corporative state...

...The Council, possessing full knowledge of these problems, would have the right to discuss and present billa regulating national economy...

...The nation needs reforms of the constitutional law, to simplify the tssk of the centre] government...

...The article of the representative of the Social Democrats begins with the following statement: "The Social-Democrats are unanimous in their wish to participate in the' government...

...Under the circumstances, single enterprises would become cells of national production...

...Up until 1914, insistence upon their own language was the only sign of Breton "autonomy...

...Yet only the Social-Democrat* offer an elaborate and constructive plan for the reorganisation of postwar Holland...

...Too many of hit comrades had disappeared...

...Rennes, Valines, Quimper, Morlaix, Malestroit, Ploermel, Josselin, Jugon, St...

...No German soldier wslked alone, even in th* city streets...

...And assistance lent to Europe muat be shaped by a proper understanding of the frame ef mind prevailing in those circles...

...About 1922, Germany began to have more or less overt contact with the "autonomists...

...Unions striving to mndermine the nation's independence and abolish religious freedom must not be tolerated...

...Tk* state would be confined to the enactment of gen...

...Tk* article of the Communist representative is remarkable for its meekness...

...Before the war, a gulf divided them from other parties, and this gulf grew even deeper owing to the Communist policy in the period of the Stalin-Hitler pact, which was in fore* during the first year of Holland's occupation...

...The concrete and flexible application of these laws would belong to the domain of a "production union," presided over by a chairman, to be appointed by the government and to head a social and an economic department Both tk* employers and the worker* would be represented on the two committees, with equality of representation guaranteed on the first one...

...The parliament was overburdened with trifling matters and technical details, and the authority of the representative system was accordingly on the decline...

...From this point of view there is great significance in the pamphlet which waa published in Holland illegally, and from which excerpta have been printed in severs) issue* of Vrij Nederland, the semi-official organ of the Dutch in exile...

...It insists that after the Germans have been driven out of the country, tha status quo ante Kay 10th be restored...

...In their opinion, the realisation of this idea would bring about an unjustified predominsnce of the producers' interest in society...

...In the eyes of the editors of the pamphlet, the devotion of the Dutch people to the democratic form of government does not blot out the imperfection of the parliamentary system, as it was manifested during the period following the First World War...

...The editors regard them sa opposed to the feeling of the great majority of the people, with the reservation that should democracy prove incapable of solving the problems which sre facing the nation, then the totalitarian tendency will gain tha upper hand...

...Bretons taken prisoner at Dunkeique were separated from the other prisoners, interned in...

...They declare that it ia not their intention to follow blindly the Russian pattern...

...know about the aims and viewpoint* of the leaders of the various movement* for liberation...

...Most of these agitators for independence were non-Bretons, who carefully hid their anti-French ideas...

...When Hitler came into power, the Reich sent regular subsidies to the "Breton autonomous movement" and "Breia Atao...

...1 HE editors of the pamphlet have allowed no room for the proponent* of totalitarian ideas, though these, too, are represented in the underground movement...

...It it from their rank* that the builders of postwar Europe will arise, and it is to them that the people will entrust their fate...

...Truckloada of German troops were blown up...

...oral law*, for instance, laws regulating working hour* and other social problems...

...Through the medium of the pamphlet "The Future of Holland," these various currents of opinion speak to us with the whole weight of their experience in the Second World War...

...It is only natural that in the opinion of this party, the main features of tha state ought to be determined by Christian principles...

...they war* shipped to France, and were liberated and returned to Holland by the German army...

...The roughness of the terrain of Brittany helped make it one of the ttrongholdt of the Underground, and the Breton's fierce love of hit home made hit resistance still more stubborn...

...the contributors to the pamphlet mention the need for state interference in the national economy...

...A juridic formula must be found, contends the article of the ".Anti-Revolutionary Party," which would serve aa a weapon to combat the abuse of the freedom of union and assembly...

...The state must have its own individuality and must combat such trends as undermine the foundations of national existence...

...The owner at before would be in charge of the technical side of the enterprise, but in comparison with pre-war times, his functions would undergo a fundamental change...

...Tke "essentially Germanic" character of Alsace, Lorraine, Flanders, and Burgundy was emphasized...

...Cast, snd St...

...When war broke out, the two leaders of the movement, Mordrel and Debeauvais, who were not Bretons, fled to Germany...

...As a rule, Germans did not go into many of the small, isolated villages of the interior, where a silent, suspicious population lived remote from contact with modern civilization...