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

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autonomy enjoyed by Snijders. The issue was not resolved while Snijders held office but
would also feature in the enquiry of the de Jonge team. 75
The circumstances sUlTounding Snijders resignation are sketchy. What is known is
that on 5 November, Troelstra, in his speech to parliament, demanded that the Commander­
in-Chief be dismissed since he had lost the faith of his troops and his countly.76 In his reply
to Troelstra, Alting von Geusau supported Snijders wholeheartedly. The next day, however,
the Minister of War declared that the government did not believe Snijders was the right
person to lead the armed forces in its "new direction", a term he left undefined. 77 It seemed
that the concems raised by Troelstra, mixed with the fear of heightened unrest among
troops, convinced the Minister of War that Snijders was a liability. Later, Troelstra would
claim that his parliamentary speech had been the deciding blow for Snijders. 78 It is more
likely, however, that Alting von Geusau's many conflicts with the Commander-in-Chiefin
previous weeks, especially over how to handle the Harskamp situation, had decisive effect.
He felt safe in making the declaration on 6 November since Snijders had offered to resign
earlier that day during a heated altercation about de Jonge's appointment. 79 But Alting von
Geusau had not confened with the rest of the cabinet. In fact, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, H. A. van Kamebeek, criticised the Minister of War when the issue finally came up
for discussion on 8 November. He disapproved of the lack of consultation and believed the
decision was not even binding, since it was not up to the Minister of War whether Snijders
was allowed to resign or not. In the end, nothing much could be done. Alting von Geusau
forced the govel1uuent's hand by announcing Snijder's depatiure in parliament.
Faced with Snijders' resignation for the second time that year, the Queen now had
little choice but to accept it, however unwillingly.80 After a request from Alting von
Geusau, Lieutenant-General van Terwisga, the Commander of the Field Army, also handed
in his resignation, which came into effect on 16 December 1918. 81 On 11 November, as the
75 Staatscommissie, Waarnemingen bi} de Gemobiliseerde LaJldmac!zt pp. 22 - 28.
76 "Kort Verslag van de Handelingen der Vergaderingen van de Tweede Kamer der Staten Generaal- Zitting 1918 -
1919" [Short repOli of the dealings of the meetings of the Second Chamber of the Estates General - Sitting 1918 -
1919] 5 November 1918, p. 122, in SMG/DC, "Afschrift stamboek officieren" SJ - SU, 397/SII.
77 Ibid. pp. 128 - 129.
78 Troelstra, Gedenkschriften. Vierde Deel.Storm p. 177.
79 Commander-in-Chiefto Queen Wilhelmina, 6 November 1918, in SMG/DC, "Afschrift stamboek officieren" SJ -
SU, 397/SII; Scheffer, November 1918 p. 22.
80 Royal Decree, no. 10,9 November 1918, in SMGIDC, "Afschrift stamboek officieren" SJ - SU, 397/SII.
81 Berg, Cornelis Jacobus Snijders p. 118; Tuyll, The Netherlands and World War 1 p. 249.