NEW GUINEA’S FUTURE

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26196, 21 August 1950, Page 7

NEW GUINEA’S FUTURE

DUTCH FEAR “MAJOR CONFLICT ” INDONESIAN CLAIM TO TERRITORY SYDNEY, August 19. The Dutch expected a major conflict for possession of West New Guinea, said the Assistant-Resident Commissioner in Dutch New Guinea (Dr. J. V. de Bruijn) to-day. Dr. Btuijn, who is in Sydney as an observer at meetings of the South Pacific Commission’s Research Council, continued: “We expect a major conflict, but we are going to defend Dutch New Guinea. Practically 90 to 95 per cent, of the natives of Dutch New Guinea are very pro-Dutch and very much anti-Indonesian. We can cope with anything that arises. ■ “If they try to come there, they will not only be fighting the Dutch, but 1,000.000 Papuans. The Indonesians will start small-scale invasions on all the islands, trying to stir up the people there. If ever the Indonesians take over Dutch New Guinea, they will take over Australian New Guinea as well.” The Australian Minister of External Affairs (Mr P. C. Spender), who is on an overseas tour, said in Paris that he rejected the claim by the Indonesian President (Dr. Achmed Soekamo) that Dutch New Guinea should be added to the Indonesian Republic. Mr Spender said: "There is, in the Australian Government’s judgment, no foundation whatever for the claim that Dutch New Guinea ’belongs' to Indonesia. Any claim that Dutch New Guinea belongs to Indonesia because it was previously administered by the Dutch, together with Indonesia, it irrelevant and cannot be accepted “In determination of the future of Dutch New Guinea the interests of its indigenous population, who ethnically are the same people as inhabit Australian New Guinea, must be of prime importance. It is proper to point out that there is not a real affinity between them and the people of Indonesia.”