PROFESSOR’S COMMENT

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29713, 5 January 1962, Page 11

PROFESSOR’S COMMENT

Sovereignty Issue

(N Z P.A -Reuter —Copi/rtpht) LONDON. January 3

A British author today claimed that according to arguments advanced by Holland and Indonesia, de jure sovereignty over the disputed territory of West New Guinea was either in the hands of the Indonesians or it was suspended “It does not lie with the Dutch.” the author, Dr. Leslie Palmier, a professor at Victoria University of Wellington. claimed in his book “Indonesia and the Dutch.” being published tomorrow by Oxford University Press Dr. Palmier says: “Time has brought no clarification and soverignty over Western New Guinea has. in effect, remained suspended.

"As cogent arguments can be produced to show that it was transferred to Indonesia, as to the contrary. In consequence there is no consensus that either party has an impeccable legal claim to the area ”

But since Holland had remained in occupation she had been able to enforce her interpretation that the territory was still hers, he adds. The book is sponsored by the London Institute of Race Relations, which describes itself as “an unofficial and nonpolitical body ” Dr Palmier, who was tra ned at the London School of Economics, is head of the Department of Asian Studies at Victoria University of Wellington. He wrote one previous study on Indonesia—“ Social Status and Power in Java.”