THE INDONESIAN PROBLEM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 74, 7 January 1949, Page 3

THE INDONESIAN PROBLEM

Broadcast by Queen Juliana HER HOPES FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) (Rec. 1.40 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 6. Queen Juliana, in a broadcast from The Hague to-day, said she hoped that an Indonesian Federal Government would be established within a few weeks as a major step on the way to the formation of the sovereign United States of Indonesia. Her Majesty said that military action was in no way intended to break the pledges which her mother and the Netherlands people as a whole had given.

“The new Federal Government will without delay have to take further measures to prepare for transition from the old to the new constitutional' order and for the establishment of the latter,” said Her Majesty. “As part of these measures it will, in agreement with the representatives of the Crown, organise a free election ill Indonesia as soon circumstances permit. “Thus the Sovereign United States of Indonesia will become a reality. Indonesia and the Netherlands will then join a union to harmonise their efforts and energies for the sound development of the two countries and for the benefit of world prosperity. Then the basis for a better and happier future such as envisaged by my mother will have been laid.”

OPINION AT BATAVIA REPUBLICANS DOUBT GO-OPERATION (Rec. 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 6. In accelerating the formation of an Indonesian Federal Government the Dutch may seek the co-operation of at least one prominent Republican, says Reuter’s correspondent at Batavia. Queen Juliana's broadcast ,• is regarded as providing a clue to what may be the chief object of the visit of the Dutch premier (Dr. Drees). Dr. Drees on arrival at Batavia today would not say whether he was likely to meet Republican leaders who are at present held by the Dutch. Sources close to the Dutch Administration agreed that the early formation of a Federal Government with one or more Republican leaders cooperating would be a useful counter to international criticism of Dutch action here and particularly to _ Mr Nehru’s proposal for an international conference on Indonesia.

Republican opinion rejects the possibility of Republican leaders operating in the formation of the Fed-, eral Government in the present • circumstances and considers that the Republicans-, free and unfree, will await the outcome of the conference proposed by Mr Nehru and in the meantime* guerilla resistance would continue.

In Washington to-day Mr Robert Lovett (acting-secretary of State) expressed the hope that the Netherlands will give “a concrete demonstration of its intention to satisfy the legitimate aspirations of the Indonesians for self rule.” Mr Lovett said that the Netherlands should organise an Indonesian Government in which all parties could seek and obtain representation in accordance with their popular followings through the exercise of free democratic processes. ' Mr Lovett stressed the State Department’s continuing interest and readiness to assist in the attainment of co-operation between The Hague and the Indonesian Republic. He praised the Republican Government for its “resolute action” in dealing with the Communist revolt _ against its authority which he said was engineered by a Moscow-trained and disciplined Communist agent.” Mr Lovett stated that the Republican Government was of “proved nationalist character” and that the United States would refuse to accept as final the Dutch “police action” in Indonesia. He said “the . United States cannot, of course, endorse or condone a solution by force _ of such problems as that in Indonesia.”

OFFER TO RESUME TALKS REPUBLICANS DEFINE CONDITIONS CANBERRA, Jan. 6. Representatives of the Indonesian Republic, with temporary headquarters somewhere in Sumatra, have issued a statement through the Indonesian representative in Canberra, offering on five conditions to resume talks with the Dutch under the supervisor of the United Nations Committee of Good Offices.

The conditions include the release of all members of the Republican Government held by the Dutch, the withdrawal of Dutch troops to their former positions, and full recognition of Republican sovereignty over Java and Sumatra.

INVITATION TO CONFERENCE SIX COUNTRIES ACCEPT (Rec. 10.5) NEW DELHI. Jan. 6. It was disclosed to-day that India lias invited 20 countries to a conference on Indonesia in New Delhi on January 20. Egypt, Persia, Afghanistan, Ceylon, Burma and Australia have accepted. Siam has declined. Replies are awaited from Turkey, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Transjordan, Iraq, Yemen, China, Nepal, Pakistan, New Zealand and the Philippines. THROWN INTO BOILING OIL REPUBLICANS’ VENGEANCE ON COMMUNISTS (Rec. 11.25) BATAVIA, Jan. G. A Dutch Army statement to the Press to-day reports that in Blitar, south-east Java, Republican forces threw an unstated number of Communists into boiling oil and in nearby Lodojo killed 150 men. The statement also said that in several places the Masjoemi (Islamic Party) “made a clean sweep of great numbers of Communists before the arrival of Dutch forces.”