Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury

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ovenuled civil authorities in these regions, and accordingly had a considerable say in
economic matters. They used this influence to implement their own export prohibitions
(applicable only to the locality under their control); to tackle smuggling by removing
suspicious individuals out of the municipality; and to monitor food supplies and smugglers
by compiling lists of goods stockpiled locally. The new regulations caused further
confusion at the borders, although fortunately, commanders only used this power
sporadically.68
The armed forces had a specific duty to supervise transit trade passing through the
Netherlands. The Rhine Conventions signed in the nineteenth century guaranteed access
along the length of the river for all merchant vessels of countries through which it flowed.
The Conventions also opened the waterways connecting the Schelde and Rhine to foreign
merchants. 69 This meant that during the war, the Dutch could not restrict Gennan trade to
and from occupied Belgium, as long as it was of a mercantile nature. However, according
to Article 2 of the neutrality declaration, the Dutch were obliged to ensure that the warring
parties did not use their country for the transport of military materials. Therefore, all
Gennan transit trade had to be checked for contraband.
Once Germany occupied all the territory along the Dutch-Belgian border, it
became even more imperative for the Dutch to supervise German trade. 70 Special rail and
river posts were set up on both the frontier with Belgium and with Germany.71 Initially, the
supervisory role was relatively simple: to inspect goods and prevent any obvious
contraband from getting through.72 However, the task became more complicated when the
govennnent decided that all transit materials must have official documentation
68 Territorial Commander in Zeeland, "Overzicht van de maatregelen der militaire overheid t.o.v levensmiddelen in
de provincie Zeeland" [Overview of the regulations ofthe military authority with regard to foodstuffs in the province
of Zeeland] May 1915, in ARA, "Archief van de Afdeling Documentatie van de Koninklijke Bibliotheek inzake der
verzameling van documenten en gegevens betreffende de economischen crisis van Nederland in oorlogsgevaar, 1914
- 1918 (-1921)" [Archive of the Section Documentation of the Royal Library concerning the collection of documents
and data concerning the economic crisis ofthe Netherlands in war danger, 1914 - 1918 (-1921)] entry no. 2.04.53.14,
inventory no. 10. See: Chapter 8, pp. 259 - 272, for the kinds of prohibitions imposed by military authorities.
69 Buitengewoon Nederlandsche COllrant. 21 August 1914, in Smit (ed.), Bescheiden betrefJende de buitenlandsche
politiekvan Nederland 1848 - 1919. Derde Periode 1899 -1919. Vierde Deel1914 -1917 pp. 56 - 57; "The Rhine
Conventions" Appendix XI in Vandenbosch, The Neutrality of the Netherlands pp. 336 - 338.
70 Commander-in-Chiefto Minister President, 4 October 1914, in Smit (ed.), Bescheiden betrefJende de
buitenlandsche politiekvan Nederland 1848 - 1919. Derde Periode 1899 - 1919. Vierde Deel1914 - 1917 p. 160.
7l Tuinen, "De militaire handhaving van neutraliteit en gezag" pp. 92 - 93.
72 "Nota der afdeeling II 2 en I va or zijne excellentie" [Note of department II 2 and I for his excellency [Minister of
War]] date unknown [between 26 November and 3 December 1914], in Smit (ed.), Bescheiden betrefJende de
bllitenlandsche polWek van Nederland 1848 - 1919. Derde Periode 1899 - 1919. Vierde Dee11914 - 1917 p. 253.