INDONESIA BUYS ARMS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29421, 25 January 1961, Page 8

INDONESIA BUYS ARMS

“Dutch Gravely Concerned’ 9 (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) THE HAGUE, January 23. Dutch Government officials have privately expressed grave concern at the e-ecent purchases of arms by Indonesia from Russia, British United Press said. Indonesia had bought motortorpedo boats, destroyers, submarines, several war planes and some small arms, according to unconfirmed reports. Consignments were said to be already on their way to Indonesia before the recent mission, led by the Army Chief of Staff. General Nasution, left Moscow. According to informed sources at The Hague, the Dutch Government was considering the possibility of an armed Indonesian attack on West New Guinea before April. Government officials would not discuss the report, but Western diplomatic sources in Holland said Dutch New Guinea might become another point of Russian interference in Asian affairs. British United Press said. These sources said that, as in Daos. Russia might want to take a hand in the New Guinea dispute, by aiding an armed Indonesian invasion of the territory. The diplomatic sources said Russia could have two reasons for doing that:— To weaken the West’s position in the Pacific. To demonstrate to China that Russia was also active in what Peking could consider to be the Chinese sphere of influence. It is understood that Australia. the United States and Britain recently warned the Indonesian Government, through their envoys in Djakarta, to abandon any aggressive designs on Dutch New Guinea.