Democratic and Royal

In more than a century of Dutch constitutional government there have been only 33 Cabinets. No. 1 Dutch Cabinet maker is old Dr. Hendrikus Colijn. Last week the onetime Dutch "strong man" was sadly planning a round-the-world trip to forget that the last of his five had set the all-time Dutch low by lasting exactly two days and seven hours. Last June Calvinist Dr. Colijn was compelled to resign when his old-fashioned financial and social policies split the coalition between his Anti-Revolutionary Party and the progressive Catholics. After a month of Cabinet stasis Queen Wilhelmina's Favorite was back again with a museum collection of Ministers. The Catholics and Socialists promptly sent them back to gather more dust.

The defeat of Dr. Colijn's hoary oldsters was a victory for democratic theory which asserts that governments should represent majority opinion. Unfortunately the Dutch Parliament is so split among minor parties that not one of them can command a sure majority. Last week Dr. D. J. de Geer, leader of the Christian Historical Party, smaller but a shade less conservative than the Anti-Revolutionaries, formed a new Cabinet. Now that they are rid of stiff-necked Dr. Colijn, the Socialists and Catholics may well be ready to support a compromise policy.

However divided on politics, all Hollanders unite in agreeing that the House of Orange is the incarnation of Dutch virtue and Queen Wilhelmina the finest sovereign any nation ever had. Last week planes were forbidden to fly over Soestdijk Palace and cars and bicycles passed it slowly and quietly, for there Crown Princess Juliana was waiting for her second baby. At 7 one morning 51 guns announced the birth of a second daughter. The nation was sorry that it was not a male heir, but healthy Princess Juliana has said that she is going to have a dozen children and sooner or later one of them must be a boy.

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