WEST NEW GUINEA

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28629, 4 July 1958, Page 9

WEST NEW GUINEA

People Claimed By Indonesia

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) CANBERRA, July 3. The Australian Government was not seriously concerned by Indonesia’s decision to declare the inhabitants of Dutch New Guinea Indonesian nationals, ministers said today. They interpreted the decisions as part of the Indonesian Government’s policy of creating tension over its claims to sovereignty over Dutch New Guinea. Ministers said it was significant that the Indonesian decision came within 24 hours of an announcement that the Netherlands Government planned to send army reinforcements to Dutch New Guinea as a safeguard against attack. The Indonesian decision is

generally regarded as a logical corollary to Indonesia’s persistent claim to sovereignty over the territory. Although Cabinet is meeting today, the Indonesian move was not listed for discussion. The people of Dutch-ruled West New Guinea are regarded as Indonesian citizens under the terms of a new Bill passed by Parliament at Jakarta on Tuesday, according to political observers. Observers said the Bill defining Indonesian citizenship included “West Irian, a part still controlled by Holland of the former Netherlands East Indies.” The Minister of Justice (Mr Maengkom) had earlier told Parliament that the Bill should not specifically cite West Irian in the definition of Indonesian citizenship. Political observers said the Bill implied that persons from West Irian Already living in other islands controlled by Jakarta should be given citizenship.

Call For Korean Election*. — The United Nations Command in Korea has delivered a Note to Communist China reaffirming that the question of Korean elections must be settled before the command withdraws further troops.—Seoul, July 3.