THE DUTCH EAST INDIES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22232, 25 October 1937, Page 8

THE DUTCH EAST INDIES

A Peaceful Colony i SMALL CONCERN ABOUT WAR IN CHINA Although fairly close to the scene of the conflict between China and Japan, the Dutch East Indies are at present in a peaceful state and are little affected by the trouble between these two countries. This view was expressed in an interview last evening by Mr H. G. Nauta, a banker from Sourabaya, Java, who with his wife is at present making a holiday tour of the Dominion. He said that although the Government of the country had made defensive preparations and had instituted a fairly heavy rearmament scheme for both the army and navy there was little feeling of enmity against the Japanese, and the people were not concerned with the dispute. x The Japanese had built large warehouses in the chief towns of the Dutch East Indies and were able to sell their goods very cheaply, said Mr Nauta. Consequently the natives were able to purchase things that otherwise they would not have been able to afford. The Japanese were very good business people and took much of Java's sugar and oil. Another thing leading to the peaceful state of the country was that the Dutch constantly kept out of all trouble. The people personally might have their own feelings and opinions, but the Government knew better than to become involved in foreign disputes, which might cause considerable harm. In Europe especially the Dutch Government kept clear of trouble with other Powers and kept its own course. The natives of Java had no minds of their own and knew nothing whatever about the causes of the trouble in China. A few of the educated natives understood the dispute, but for the most part they were "a docile mob" with no political ideas of their own. There was no Communism, no trade unions, no strikes; the Dutch Government was very good, and things were going very smoothly and well.