Dutch Forestall Large-scale Republican Operation

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 14858, 21 December 1948, Page 3

Dutch Forestall Large-scale Republican Operation

Latter Appeal To U.S.A. For Help .

Action Discussed In

Paris

London, Dec. 20

The Netherlands Prime Minister, in a statement to the Parliament at The Hague today, said Dutch military action in Indonesia was taken to forestall large-scale operations by the Republicans, due to begin on January 1. The Prime Minister said pressure, had been brought to bear on the Republican Government by its own extremists. It had been established that the Republican Commander-in-Chvef had given secret orders to increase the infiltration into Dutch territory of armed Republican troops. , „ . In these circumstances the Netherlands Government did not feel justified in adopting “A wait and see atittude.” . ~ It also regretted that Pans could not agree to the suggestion of the Good Offices Committee that further talks should be held. In Paris the Security Council, at the request of the United States and Australia, held a special meeting today to discuss Indonesia. After an hour’s discussion on procedure, the council adjourned until Wednesday. In Washington, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Financial Affairs of the Indonesian Republic, had a talk today with the United States Under-Secretary of State. He apnealed to the United States for political and economic support for the Indonesian Republic, and he asked the United States to consider cutting of Marshall Aid to the Netherlands because of the Dutch acti'on in Java and Sumatra.