DUTCH SHIP PROTECTED

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28474, 2 January 1958, Page 7

DUTCH SHIP PROTECTED

Australians Guard Against Seizure (N;Z>. Press Association—Co'pyngtit) (Rec. 9.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 31. The Australian destroyers Tobruk and Anzac took up positions beside the Dutch K.P.M. liner Nieuw Holland in Singapore, said an American Associated Press report from Singapore. Reports in Singapore said an Indonesian gunboat was waiting to seize the liner. The Nieuw Holland had been in Singapore for a week with passengers and cargo for Melbourne. Sailing had been postponed several times. Passengers said they were told a British warship had been sent to look for the gunboat and would intervene if necessary when the Nieuw Holland sailed.

Commodore Nazir, the Indonesian Shipping Minister, said today that Indonesia’s disrupted inter-island sea communications would be restored by the beginning of March, says a report from Jakarta. Sea trade among Indonesia’s 3000 islands has been almost halted since the seizure of the K.P.M. coastal fleet. Commodore Nazir said that besides recently chartered Japanese ships, Indonesia would charter ships from other countries to substitute for the K.P.M. vessels. The Minister told the P.I.A. news agency that the Government had no intention of pooling in one harbour the K.P.M. ships impounded at various Indonesian ports. “What is the use of pooling them? Let them remain tied where they are.” he said, according to the news agency. 0 Enterprises Handed Over Twenty more Dutch enterprises in Jakarta were formally handed over to the Jakarta military authorities for control today, according to a New China News Agency broadcast received in London. So far, 43 Dutch enterprises have been brought under the control of the Indonesian Government since the Jakarta military authorities announced that all Dutch enterprises would be taken over. Six other enterprises are to be handed over. A committee has been set up in every Dutch enterprise already placed under Government control, the agency said. Representatives of the military, the police, workers of the enterprises and experts are included in the committees. They supervise the carrying out of all business activities by the enterprise. The Dutch administrative personnel and employees of the enterprises still hold their old positions under supervision. According to the Indonesian news agency, Antara, all Dutch personnel of the Bank of Indonesia will be replaced by Indonesians from tomorrow. The bank originally planned to complete the substitution of Dutch personnel by Indonesians by 1960.