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

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form. 189 The prints were readily available throughout the main cities. 190 On several
occasions, the German Minister in The Hague urged the Dutch Foreign Minister, John
Loudon, to censor Raemaekers' work, as he believed it j eopardised neutrality. 191 Loudon
responded by asking Raemaekers and editors of the Telegraafto temper the content of the
cartoons - a request they ignored. He also informed his Gennan colleague that there was
little the government could do, even had it wanted to, as the large degree of freedom
enjoyed by the press was legally sanctioned. He did assure the diplomat that the Minister of
Justice had investigated Raemaekers and was absolutely certain that the Allies did not fund
his art.192
Nevertheless, German pressure had effect. In September 1915, the municipal
council of The Hague ordered that books and prints published by Raemaekers and other
cartoonists critical of the war could not appear in shop windows, nor be advertised publicly,
if they could be construed as offensive by the govennnents of belligerent countries. 193 This
was a clear concession to the many foreign diplomats and embassies in the Netherlands'
capital. For a similar reason, namely to avoid alienating Belgian officials, Bosboom
requested that Snijders instruct all officers not to praise Gennany in public: apparently
some Belgian refugees overheard such praise and complained to a diplomat. 194
189 For examples of Raemaekers' work see: Louis Raemaekers, Het Toppunt del' Beschaving. [The pinnacle of
civilisation] Six volumes. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1916; Louis Raemaekers, The Great War. A Neutral's Indictment.
One Hundred Cartoons. London: The Fine Art Society, 1916; Louis Raemaekers, The Great War in 1916. A
Neutral's Indictment. Sixty Cartoons. London: The Fine Art Society, 1917.
190 Stijn Streuvels diary entry, 7 December 1914 (In Oorlogstijd p. 321).
191 German Minister in The Hague to Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, 21 January 1915; Dutch Minister in Berlin to
Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, 21 April 1915, both in Smit (ed.), Bescheiden betreffende de buitenlandsche
politiekvan Nederland 1848 -1919. Derde Periode 1899 -1919. Vierde Deel1914 -1917 pp. 298 - 299,352- 353;
Smit, Nederland in de Eerste Wereldoorlog. Tweede Deel p. 41.
192 Minister of Foreign Affairs to German Diplomat in The Hague, 1 March 1915, in Smit (ed.), Bescheiden
betreffende de bllitenlandsche polWek van Nederland 1848 - 1919. Derde Peri ode 1899 - 1919. Vierde Deel 1914 -
1917pp.312-314.
193 German Minister in The Hague to Chief of Cabinet of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 7 August 1915, in Smit
(ed.), Bescheiden betreffende de bllitelllalldsche politiek vall Nederland 1848 - 1919. Derde Periode 1899 - 1919.
Vierde Dee11914 -1917 p. 407; Newspaper clipping, 10 September 1915, in scrapbook '''Van alles wat.' (Op
militair gebied. Waarin gegevens tot de zamenstelling eener 'Militaire Encyclopedie' No. I" [Something of
everything. On military affairs. In which facts can be found for the compilation of a 'Military Encyclopedia' No.1] in
SMG/DC, "Handschrift nr. 135 (11 delen)" 143C.
194 Minister of War to Commander-in-Chief, 13 March 1915, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star' entry no.
2.13.70, inventory no. 178.