Georgist Activity in Holland |
[Reprinted from Land and Freedom, May-June 1940]
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The fine work our Dutch comrades have been doing
makes all the more poignantly sad the recent news from
their fine little country. As in Denmark, things are so
unsettled that we do not know what will become of the
future of our Georgeist friends and the Cause they are
working for. We sincerely hope that they will be able
to carry on.
The most persistent foreign Georgeist periodical we
have been receiving has been the Dutch Ons Erfdeel
("Our Heritage"). This is a weekly published at Groningen, and edited by H. Kolthek. The latest issue to
reach us is dated April 20. At that time the Party of
Justice and Freedom (De Partij Recht en Vrijheid), of
which Ons Erfdeel is the official organ, was planning its
annual Convention for May 2, in Utrecht. Organization
matters and similar problems were on the agenda for
discussion. Various Chapters had already sent in their
reports for the Convention, indicating the progress of
their activities.
Two important Chapters of the Party are in the Province of Groningen; one, the Leeuwarden Chapter, and
the other, the Groningen Chapter. This latter is the seat
of the headquarters of the Party as well as the publication office of Ons Erfdeel. The Leeuwarden Chapter is
very active, having established the first Henry George
School in the Province, last December. Good news also
comes from the Hague Chapter, which reports a large
sale of "Progress and Poverty" in the newly translated
edition. This Chapter has published sharp criticisms of
the country's financial system, which has excited the
indignation of the conservative press. But this has in
no wise deterred the progress of the Hague Georgeists.
A Henry George School flourishes there, and a new edition of the Teachers' Manual has recently been issued.
The April 20 issue of Ons Erfdeel was accompanied by
a supplement, in pamphlet form, on "Georgeism and
Catholicism." This contained an essay on the subject
by the officers of the Party, and a Dutch translation of
the famous Statement of Dr. Edward McGlynn, the one
approved by the Papal Ablegate. It also contained a
letter from August Diemont to Pope Pius XII., which
quotes many Bible extracts concerning man's right to
the earth. Diemont asks His Holiness, in his efforts for
peace, to remember the message Henry George gave to
the world.
Ons Erfdeel reports that the outbreak of the war last
September interfered somewhat with Georgeist activities at first, but later, forward strides were taken in spite
of the serious situation. The circulation of the journal
has even increased.
Good luck, comrades!
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