DUTCH SHIPS RELEASED

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28542, 22 March 1958, Page 13

DUTCH SHIPS RELEASED

Indonesia Avoids Compensation

(N.Z. Press .Association— Copyright) (Rec. 11.15 p.m.) JAKARTA, March 21. . Indo, J es *a n Government today reeased all vessels of the Dutch K.P.M. shipping line which it had detained since early December when the anti-Dutch campaign started, the American Associated Press reported. It notified Dutch interests in Jakarta and There are 34 Dutch ships in Indonesian ports. Indonesia has decided, however, not to relinquish the docks and port facilities, offices, and other properties of the huge shipping concern, which are worth millions of pounds.

The Indonesian Government had decided to return the ships jecause K.P.M. was asking between £7,000,000 and £12,000,000 in compensation—ah “exorbitant” figure —a spokesman said.

The Indonesians put some of the ships back into service on the inter-island routes.

However, Dutch warships arrested several and escorted them to ports in Dutch New Guinea. On December 6 the Indonesian Government announced that it had seized all Dutch shipping companies and ordered all Dutch ships to remain in Indonesian ports. The Information Minister, Mr Sudibjo, said at the time that supervisory teams under military authorities would be put aboard the ships.

The question o. compensation would be taken up by Indonesia only after the Dutch New Guinea issue was settled, he said then.