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

- 324 -
willing to live without, as long as they knew their troops were receiving enough, than
Amsterdammers, who would undoubtedly have felt more tolerant of shortages if they knew
Dutch soldiers were under fire in their defence. This is not to say that the Dutch had no
concept of the need to do without, as most understood the necessity of government
intervention in the economy. Nevertheless, they were unwilling to accept such an unfair
distribution of goods.
One issue that highlights the importance of fair distribution particularly well was
the problem of feeding interned soldiers. By international law, they merited similar
treatment to soldiers from the country in which they were interned. This meant not only that
they received the same monetary subsidies, but also similar food and fuel allowances as
Dutch troops. 165 If food-rationing favouring their own soldiers did not sit well with
civilians, feeding foreign soldiers extra rations was unacceptable. The Dutch did not see the
justice in giving (uninvited) visitors more to eat than they themselves received. Decreasing
the rations of over 45,000 internees on a par with civilians was an ideal way for the
government to kill two birds with one stone: it could reduce food supplies to the military
(responsible for feeding the internees) and placate its constituents. 166 Nevertheless, this
action risked the ire of the belligerents. Britain entered into a heated discussion with the
neutral after the civilian bread ration (and that of internees) was cut from 250 to 200
grammes in April 1918. 167 But the government stood its ground. On this particular point it
felt that the demands of its own citizens, who were taking to the streets in protest, were far
more important than the strongly-worded requests of its neighbour.
MANUFACTURING ENOUGH SHOES, UNIFORMS AND BLANKETS
The outfitting of troops in August 1914 was far from ideal. 168 Many were not only
missing proper uniforms, their shoes and underwear were in various stages of disrepair as
well. Unprepared for the clothing needs of a fully-mobilised force, available stocks of anny
165 Laporte, "Belgische geYnterneerden in Nederland" p. 61.
166 Minister Agriculture, Industry and Trade to Minister Foreign Affairs, 21 January 1918, in ARA, "Archieven van
de Dienst der GeYnterneerde Krijgsgevangenen 1917 - 1919" entry no. 2.05.42, inventory no. 2.
167 Central Bread Bureau to Head of Service for Interned Prisoners of War, 13 April 1918, in ARA, "Archieven van
de Dienst der Gei'nterneerde Krijgsgevangenen" entry no. 2.05.42, inventory no. 4; Director British Prisoners of War
Department to Head ofInternment Bureau, 16 January 1918, in ARA, "Archieven van de Dienst der Gei'nterneerde
Krijgsgevangenen" entry no. 2.05.42, inventory no. 2.
168 See: Chapter 3, pp. 115 -118.