SJAHRIR LEAVES SINGAPORE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25244, 24 July 1947, Page 7

SJAHRIR LEAVES SINGAPORE

Mission To India, Britain, U.S.

“TO GAUGE WORLD REACTION”

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) SINGAPORE, July 23. Sutan Sjahrir, the Indonesian envoy and former Premier, lelt Singapore for India by flying-boat yesterday morning. Sutan Sjahrir, in his first interview outside beleaguered Indonesia, appealed to the world “to stop this unnecessary bloodshed and devastation.” He arrived at Singapore early yesterday afternoon aboard an Indian Dakota aircraft. He said he would visit India, England, the United States, and Australia if time permitted. The purpose of his mission was to get in touch with as many important responsible people abroad as possible gauge world reaction to the Dutch attack, and advise the Republican Government on the best course of action. The Republican Government might approach some of its friendly neighbours and ask them to arbitrate. Asked where he expected help from, Sutan Sjahrir replied: “We are on very good terms with India and Australia. The Australian attitude has always been favourable towards Indonesia.” He will leave for India to-morrow or the next day. There he hopes to see Pandit Nehru and Mr Jinnah. Sutan Sjahrir said his movements thereafter depended on the situation in Indonesia, as he was likely to be recalled to help to aflvjse the President (Dr. Soekarno) in the crisis. Asked how he would get back, he said: “That will be the problem.” He confirmed that the Indian aeroplane that flew him out of Indonesia returned with Dr. Hatta, the Republican Vice-President. wbo had paid a secret visit to Pandit Nehru. Many Australian. American, and some British and Indian pilots had offered their services to the Republicans. said Sutan Sjahrir. but “we must first find the aeroplanes.” The Republicans had no air force, only a couple bf tanks, and little artillery and transnort. However, they had plenty of small arms and ammunition, food, and space for “a long war.” Sutan Sjahrir’s first knowledge that yvar had begun was at 7 a.m. on July 21 at Jogjakarta, when fighters roared, overhead “so fast and modern that they could not be ours.” The airfield was bombed shortly afterwards. Asked whether Indonesia would appeal to the United Nations. Sutan Sjahrir said that Dr. in a recent broadcast, had indicated that that was likely.

BROADCAST BY SJARIFUDDIN

“COLONIAL WAR, NOT POLICE MEASURES”

BATAVIA, July 22. The Indonesian Prime Minister ' (Mr Sjarifuddin), broadcasting over tpe Jogjakarta radio to-day, made a special appeal to Australia and generally to all friends of Indonesia “in India, China, Europe, and America,’ to intervene in the Indonesian dispute ‘ quickly and effectively.” Mr Sjarifuddin appealed to the world to stop further bloodshed. He declared that the Indonesian people now faced a large-scale colonial war and not just “police measures’ taken to maintain peace and security. He said the aim of the present Dutch military action was no jnore or less than the liquidation of the Republic as a whole and the restoration of the old colonial rule under cover of nice words and phrases. Mr Sjarifuddin said that any outside attempt to intervene in the Indonesian situation “should principally start frpm the fundamental point of the present conflict —namely, the restoration and recognition of the de facto Republic. If peace and security are to return in Indonesia'in order that trade may be restored as soon as possible, this war must be stopped.” Hp gave a warning that the Indonesian war was not in the interests of peace and stability in South-East Asia and the world at largeMr Sjarifuddin reviewed at length developments since the Cheribon agreement. He accused the Dutch of violating the agreement by blockading Java and Sumatra and maintaining large numbers of Dutch troops in the occupied areasHe recapitulated the Dutch “demands” after May 27, and said that the Republican Government had made considerable concessions before standing firp on the issue of a joint gendarmerie. The only pretext for Dutch military action had been the need for ‘‘police measures” to ensure law and order, said Mr Sjarifuddin. These measures, since July 21, had involved constant bombing of Indonesian airfields and railway communications and other points, pausing numerous victims among the civil population. Mr Sjarifuddin began his speech by saying thpt it should be clear to any observer that actual warfare had now broken out in Indonesia, and he added that it should be realised that the war would affect the lives of millions of people.

INTERNATIONAL LAW ASPECT

COMMENT ON DUTCH “POLICE ACTION”

(Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 22. Legal experts in New York are agreed that the “police action” ordered by the Netherlands against the Indonesian Republic constitutes a new development jn international law. It is pointed out that since the Government of Indonesia had been recognised by the Netherlands, its defiance does not constitute rebellion. Neither is it a war between two sovereign States, because the independence of Indonesia is not due to become effective until January 1, 1949. One authority on international law said that the whole concept of international law on the evolution of for? mer colonies to independence was in a state of flux. A similar situation would develop if Britain, having promised independence to India, should take similar military action.