Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

Britain and the Netherlands did not engage in a war, but it was more intense than a war. This is the current view of countries around the world.

On April 10, 1869, while Britain and the Netherlands were engaging in various political maneuvers, William IV set his sights on the Far East and Africa.

The management of the Netherlands was in difficulty because of the stinging problem that occurred there.

This time, even William IV was alarmed, and after frowning, he asked the Tolbeck cabinet government to follow up and settle things. Obviously, the matter was very difficult.

So it was under such circumstances that William IV convened the Privy Council of the Netherlands.

Interior Minister Joan Leer introduced at the beginning of the parliament:

“Since the Netherlands announced the integration of the Far East and African indigenous people in 1865, the provinces in the Far East of the Netherlands have begun to implement this policy. However, what they did not expect was that these provinces implemented the military control system in accordance with the provisions of the pioneering construction program. But then some unrest broke out in some areas against the wasteland reclamation program. The military control authorities in the Far Eastern provinces had to suppress it to ensure the smooth implementation of the program.

In order to give indigenous people the opportunity to participate in electoral registration and voting, the military-controlled areas have extended the voter registration and election deadlines, sometimes as long as a month.

At the end of March 1869, the voter registration process across the Far East and Africa was completed. According to the final statistics, the number of white voters in the Netherlands was 3.3 million, and the number of indigenous voters only reached 800,000. White voters were relatively enthusiastic about the election.

But in 1865, in the provinces of Western Australia, Northern Australia, New Guinea and the Maluku Islands, as well as the Hawaiian Islands, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda, and Zambia (to which the northern part of Zimbabwe was added) Indigenous voters in eight provinces including Malawi and Malawi actively participated in the elections. Many indigenous people were elected to the Constituent Assembly and participated in the establishment of provincial governments.

However, there are also several provinces such as Dutch East Indies, William Province (Victoria), New Wales, South Australia, Queensland, New Guinea and the Maluku Islands, Tasmania, and the South Pacific Islands. There are only a minority of indigenous representatives in 12 provinces including Fiji (the capital is Fiji Island), Madagascar, North Mozambique and Congo.

The province with the largest number of indigenous representatives is Northern Australia, accounting for 61%, followed by Northern Mozambique with 53%, and Tanzania with 45%.

By May 1868, all the Dutch overseas territories had completed the work of formulating constitutions, except for the three provinces of Guyana in South America, the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East, and Alaska and a half in North America.

The current new constitutions of each province adhere to the spirit of the cabinet government's reconstruction program and the amendment bill in the Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On the one hand, it affirms the right of indigenous people to vote and participate in political power. On the other hand, it deprives those who are unwilling to be loyal to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and His Majesty, The right to stand for election and to participate in elections for persons who have committed unlawful acts against the Netherlands.

Some states have also expanded women's rights and increased their participation in work. At the same time, they have implemented the universal primary education system that the Netherlands took the lead in the world in 1862, and formulated the establishment of militia organizations to promote the Netherlands' governance rights in various provinces in all aspects. and the process of dominion.

At present, the newly established provincial, municipal and town governments have begun to attach importance to and safeguard bourgeois private ownership, respond to the requirements of His Majesty and the Cabinet Government, stop the expansion of plantations, and ask the plantation owners to sign contracts with the government as soon as possible to sell their land, so that the government can Release land to farmers”

"However," Jonler glanced at William IV worriedly and said worriedly: "However, this policy has been welcomed by most of the lower classes of Dutch society, but many people among the Dutch nobles and landowners have obvious opposition. position,"

Tolbeck agreed: "I also understand the situation, and it seems that they think this is weakening their heritage."

William IV smiled sarcastically, but then his eyes were stern, "You can't be rich for more than three generations, and the nobles still need to reduce their titles year by year. If they think that they can maintain their status with large areas of plantation territory, you can tell them that their The idea is wrong and the Netherlands supports it.”

Hearing this, Jonler continued: "By the end of March this year, except for the Province of Guyana in South America, the Province of the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East, and the Province of Alaska in North America, all the remaining 20 overseas provinces have elected provincial councils, government officials and Members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament, and governments at the provincial, municipal and town levels also announced their establishment."

“Provinces, cities, and provinces have also successively approved all constitutional amendment regulations of the Dutch Constitution and the provincial government constitution. Senators and representatives from these 20 overseas provinces have also been admitted to the Parliament of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. By the middle of this month, the Netherlands Members of Parliament at home and abroad around the world will all gather in the Dutch Parliament, and their powers and responsibilities are equivalent to the relationship and equal status with local members. At present, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has formed a global territory of executive, parliamentary, and judicial trinity to form the United Kingdom. model"

William IV nodded and instructed: "After the governments of the provinces in the overseas territories are successively established and the provincial, municipal, and political councils in each region complete their transition, governance policy reforms in all aspects of politics, economy, and society should be put on the agenda."

He asked Jonler: "Where is the crisis?"

Jonler said: “Because our practice of popularizing elections in Dutch territories around the world has allowed the British to find loopholes. In many places in Africa, the British and their colonial natives came to encourage the local natives in the Netherlands to actively participate in elections, and then Our white people resisted and ruined the local image of us white Dutch people.”

"What's the result?" William IV asked.

Jonler said with a wry smile: "The British colony of Sudan is geographically adjacent to our Congo Province and Uganda. Recently, the local indigenous people there expressed their dissatisfaction with our demonstration that their interests were not protected by the local government."

Although William IV's face was expressionless, everyone could feel the rapid cooling of the atmosphere.

William IV asked: "That's all?"

Jonler shook his head and said: "Many of us white Dutch are also dissatisfied with the government giving too many rights to the indigenous people. Many people complain privately that we should learn from the practices of the British and French and carry out predatory rule instead of benevolent treatment. These are people of color."

"Look, this is the attitude of many people in the Netherlands." William IV glanced at the member of the Privy Council, and finally his eyes fell on Prime Minister Tolbeck. "My Prime Minister, what do you think of this matter? What do you think? How to do?"

William IV's calm words made it difficult for people to understand his thoughts, but no one would think that this was a true portrayal.

Tolbeck said sternly: "As long as they are on Dutch territory, they are all Dutch. The white Dutch must put an end to this idea, because if even they think this way, there will be a 100% chance that the United States will appear in the future. Something like the Civil War.”

Including Jonler's face showed a look of shock when he heard this, obviously frightened by Tolbeck's words.

But it makes sense to think about it. If this part of the Dutch whites chooses to suppress and discriminate against the indigenous people, with the indigenous people now occupying 20 million of the total population of 32.6 million in the Dutch territory, the white Dutch only account for less than 40% of the population. In terms of proportion, it is actually very difficult to rule.

William IV nodded and said, "Then what?"

Tolbeck continued: "So we white people should not have this idea, but the arrogance of the indigenous people must also be destroyed. Sweet dates and big sticks go hand in hand."

William IV: "First, ensure that the indigenous people enjoy equal rights, but it is selective. To achieve political democracy, but it needs to control public opinion and the highest power. According to the newly promulgated provincial constitutions of each province, the "Indigenous Code" that exploits the indigenous people It needs to be abolished and the "Civil Rights Act" is enacted, which is equivalent to recognizing that indigenous residents have equal rights as residents of other colors. Jury systems and circuit courts have also been established in various places to recognize and protect the right to participate in the local political and judicial systems by reforming them. and jury rights.

However, although the rights of the indigenous people have been liberated to a certain extent, most of the power of the provincial governments is still in the hands of us white people and must be in the hands of us white people. If necessary, the civil rights bills designated by each province can be determined according to the degree. To put it into perspective, discrimination is okay, but it requires cover. "

William IV ignored the people with different expressions and continued to give instructions: "Second, land reform and tax reform need to be carried out. Since rights are needed, then good, all overseas Dutch territories need to be treated equally, and some provinces in the Far East Limited land reforms began on the original basis, such as New South Wales, William Province (Victoria), Queensland and South Australia in mainland Australia and Java in the Dutch East Indies, from 1865 to 1868. , the parliaments of these provinces passed a bill to establish a land committee, and used public funds to purchase land. After the land was purchased, it was divided into small pieces of land of 25-100 acres (generally referred to as acres) and sold to them at very low prices. Whites and Aboriginals, this program is currently earmarked for a total of N20 million (or £800,000 = US$4 million) in four provinces.

The information I have shows that as of the end of March last month (March 1869), as many as 20,000 farms had been established in Queensland Province alone. With such a useful policy, why not promote it? "

Jonler smiled bitterly upon hearing this: "Financially, we have a gap."

William IV stared at Finance Minister Jan. von Cappello, waiting for his answer.

Jane von Capello smiled bitterly and said bravely: "The Ministry of Finance is currently accelerating its approval of military expenditures. The 1869 defense budget alone accounted for 10% of the total financial budget of the Netherlands. This year, 200 million Dutch guilders will be paid ( £8 million) to the Ministry of Defence, so there is currently a gap in the Treasury”

After William IV nodded in understanding, he said: "Treasury bonds can be issued."

Jane von Capello: "?"

William IV: "Just like British war bonds, the Ministry of Finance can also issue fiscal bonds for a period of five, ten, or twenty years. You can evaluate the interest and use Dutch private capital in national construction. Only in this way can the economy be revitalized."

Speaking of which, William IV