DUTCH NEW GUINEA.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 16, 19 January 1924, Page 7

DUTCH NEW GUINEA.

CHARTERED COMPANY PROPOSED. GERMAN ASPIRATIONS. AN INQUISITIVE PRINCELING. (Ey Ca'jlc —rroas Association.—Copjrtglit.) lUcceiveil 1.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, this Jay. Duvili Kust Indian files show that opinion there, is considerably disturbed o\<-r the proposal reeontly discussed at ] ih<* Governor-General's palaro for the formation of a chartered company somewhat on tho lines of tin- British North Honieo Company, to develop intensively Dntrh New Guinea. What caused tho sudden interest, of Iho authorities is not known, hut it is regarded a s signiiioaiit that one of the first moves was to issue an invitation to German settlers from the Bismarck Arrbipelago and ex-German New Guinea to settle in Dutch territory. A number did so, but finding conditions not conducive to surress the majority left. Other people also -were investigating Hie potentialities of the territory in .fnnc last. A Japanese commission, narked by the Government and the Over-j-ras Trade Development Association, visited the Malay Archipelago, supposedly -with an eye on the Dutch territory. The new scheme is regarded as specially interesting in view of the fact that Ihe. Iluke of Meoklcnmirg-Schwerin. a relative of the Prince Consort of Holland, and a German prmceling, participated in the discussions on the subject. The. duke recently travelled extensively in the territories, and he is understood to have declared that he believed Ihc necessary capital to establish a New Guinea chartered company was obtainable in Etirope. The Press, however, opposed any plan which was not entirely Putch both as regards capital and personnel, or has any leaning towards cooperation with Germans or Germany. Developments are being watched with interest in Australia, because, though the border between Dutch and mandated New Guinea runs through wild, unknown territory, any change in the western portion of the island must have an effect upon the eastern and mure civilised districts.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)