INDONESIANS AND DUTCH

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24768, 8 January 1946, Page 5

INDONESIANS AND DUTCH

VAN MOOK PUTS OFF

RETURN TO JAVA COMPLETING TALKS IN AMSTERDAM (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Bee. 9 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 6. “The Dutch Lieutenant-Governor of the East Indies (Dr. van Mook) has postponed his return to Java until Tuesday, to enable him to complete his talks in Amsterdam,” says the Amsterdam correspondent of “The Times.” “There is no official news regaraing the outcome of the talks, since the Dutch Government is of opinion that the publication of untimely expectations might have a grave influence on the Indonesian leaders.

An extremely nervous situation throughout Holland is the first result of the Government’s silence. The Government has explained that it is unable to consult Parliament because of the complexity of the international issues and the necessity 7 of avoiding iijjprudent declarations. “Dr. van Mook has been authorised to resume his talks with the Indonesian leaders. Dutch press comment is never contemptuous of Sutan Sjahrir, the Indonesian Priffie Minister, and his group.” In Java the Indonesian President (Dr. Soekarno), broadcasting from Jokjakarta, said that Indonesia was determined to fight for independence if necessary, no matter what powers were thrown against it. Dr. Soekarno appealed for recognition of Indonesia’s complete independence by the United Nations. He said that nothing else would satisfy Indonesia’s 70,000.000 people. The proposed talks in Batavia would be futile unless the Dutch first recognised the republic. Dr. Soekarno explained that he and Dr. Hatta (the Vice-President) had gone to central Java because the inland areas needed a more definite link with the Republican Government.

Twenty thousand leaflets threatening retaliation for the shelling of the Semarang airfield were dropped by a Royal Air Force Dakota over a 50mile area. The leaflets urged the -inhabitants to evacuate villages which armed bandits were using as they were liable to be shelled and bombed. Trie airfield, in between shellings, has been the scene of great activity as thousands of liberated- civilian internees have been evacuated to Batavia. The strip was temporarily out of action to-day, but Indian troops repaired the damage and a fleet of supply aeroplanes landed.