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

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sense of duty, especially when the temptation to accept bribes was high. 74 The Minister of
Finance agreed and in March 1915 instituted a premium. 75 Every three months, soldiers
received a f5 bonus if they showed diligence in apprehending offenders. 76 Some
commanders suggested increasing the amount and frequency of the payments. 77 On one
occasion, Buhlman suggested to Snijders that instead of a premium, soldiers should receive
five per cent of the profits of confiscated goods.78 Snijders disagreed because it could create
a situation where soldiers would negotiate higher payments at the borders depending on the
worth of the cargo. It would, in his view, have made smuggling an even more profitable
business than it already was for border guards. 79
The government came under pressure from the general population and the
international community to reduce military involvement in smuggling controls after an
Anglophile newspaper, the Telegraaf, published a series of atiicles on the issue in August
1915. 80 A major shareholder of the Telegraaf, H. M. C. Holdert, declared he had set up an
"anti-smuggling bureau",81 causing concern for cabinet ministers, who feared that Holdert's
actions would raise the profile of illegal trade in the eyes of the Dutch and Allied
populations. One of the major issues raised by the TelegraCifwas that border guards were
instigators of the trade. Military commanders undertook thorough investigations to ascertain
the truth behind the claim, and found that the newspaper greatly exaggerated matters. 82
Neveliheless, the British seized on the points made by the Telegraafand in October 1915,
74 Commander of the Field Army to Commander of the 13 RI and Commander of the Second Division Koninklijke
Marechallssee, 14 August 1915, in ARA, "Archief van het Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry no. 2.13 .16, inventory no.
171.
75 Minister of Finance to Commander-in-Chief, 22 March 1915, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Staf' entry no.
2.13.70, inventory no. 170.
76 Ministry of Finance, "Regeling betreffende de toekenning van premien aan militairen, behoorende tot de grens- en
kustwacht" [Regulations regarding the award of premiums to soldiers belonging to the border and coast guard] 29
March 1915, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Staf' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 170.
77 Commander-in-Chiefto Minister of Finance, 26 June 1915 and 10 August 1915, both in ARA, "Archieven van de
Generale Staf' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 170.
78 Commander of the Field Atmy to Commander-in-Chief, 19 June 1915, in ARA, "Arc hi even van de Generale Staf'
entry no. 2.13 .70, inventory no. 170.
79 Commander-in-Chief to Commander of the Field Army, 26 June 1915, in ARA, "Archief van het Hoofdkwartier
Veldleger" entry no. 2.13.16, inventory no. 183.
80 For details of the TelegraaJaffair, see: Ritter, De Donkere Poort Volume 1, p p. 332 - 340; Smidt, "De bestrijding
van de smokkelhandel" pp. 51 - 52. For the military's response to the TelegraaJarticles, see: ARA, "Archiefvan het
Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry no. 2.13.16, inventory no. 183.
81 Smidt, "De bestrijding van de smokkelhandel" p. 52.
82 Commander Division III to Commander of the Field Army, 19 August 1915; Commander of Division IV to
Commander "Division Group Brabant", 11 September 1915, both in ARA, "Archiefvan het Hoofdkwartier
Veldleger" entry no. 2.13.16, inventory no. 183; Commander 17 RI to Commander VI Infantry Brigade, 21 October
1915, in ARA, "Archiefvan het Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry no. 2.13.16, inventory no. 184.