WEST NEW GUINEA Holland Cedes Territory

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29903, 17 August 1962, Page 11

WEST NEW GUINEA Holland Cedes Territory

IH.Z Press Association —Coppnght)

NEW YORK, August 16.

Indonesia today planned air missions over the jungles of West New Guinea to inform its troops of the agreement signed in New York last night for the transfer of the sovereignty of the territory from The Hague to Djakarta.

The formal accord was signed in a 23-minute ceremony in the United Nations Security Council chambers under the chairmanship of the Secretary-General (U Thant).

It calls for a ceasefire between I h e Dutch and Indonesians to take effect al 1 a.nt. G M.T. on Saturday and the resumption of diplomatic relations immediately between the two nations.

U Thant’s hopes of election as SecretaryGeneral for a full five-year term were seen today as having received a powerful boost from- the signing of the agreement.

Holland and Indonesia had reached a total impasse in their 13-year dispute over the territory until the Burmese statesman, backed bv President Kennedy, last March appointed Mr Ellsworth Bunker to a “good offices” role between the two n a Mens.

U Thant and the United States State Department kept constant pressure on the Dutch and Indonesians to reach agreement, and a preliminary understanding was arrived at last month on a plan for transfer of the territory which Mr Bunker, a former American Ambassador to India, drew uo. The two sides transferred their negotiations to the United Nations last Monday, and U Thant personally took over mediation, steering the course to last night’s agreement in spite of the complication of fresh Indonesian troop landings in West NewGuinea as the talks were held. Assembly Approval The United Nations swill take over administration of the 160.000-square-mUe territory as soon as the United Nations General Assembly endorses the agreement, which is expected to be within the next six weeks. The United Nations Administrator —Mr Bunker himself ‘ has been suggested for

the post—will decide after May 1 when to transfer authority. “all or part.” to Indonctia.

Indonesia pledged to hold a plebiscite before the end of 1969 to enable the Papuan nhabitants to decide the future status of West NewGuinea

During the transition period when the United Nations is in control, a security force set up by the organisation will help the Papuan police maintain law and order.

Officials are already planning to send a military observer team to Hollandia to ensure compliance with the cease-fire agreement, and discussions are expected to take place almost at once on "he establishment of the security force. It is believed this will be composed of contingents drawn from one or more Asian countries Burma. Ceylon. Malaya. Pakistan. Thailand and India have all been mentioned as possible sources. “Rare Moment” The 23-minute signing ceremony last night was described by the Dutch negotiator. Dr J. H. van Roijen. as a “rare moment in recorded time.’’ At the end. five leatherbound copies of the historic agreement had been signed, providing for the transfer of administrative control in the territory to Indonesia next May. Two copies went to the Netherlands, two to Indonesia and one was retained by the United Nations. The signatures of the Indonesian Foreign Minister <Dr. Subandrio) and the two Dutch envoys. Dr. van Rotiem the Dutch Ambassador, to the United States, and Mr Carl Schurman-n, the Dutch United Nations Ambassador, were also appended to protocols for cessation of hostilities, and resumption of diplomatic relations, as well as on the military issues, and passport and consular agreements.

U Thant signed the protocols but not the formal agreements. Twenty-seven representatives of the Netherlands. Indonesia and the United

Nations Secretariat sat around the Security Council table for the ceremony. Diplomatic observers from interested countries, such as Australia, it further back in the room. Jubilant Indonesians The public gallery was three-quarters full, with a big representation of jubilan', Indonesians, many of whom had spent the day at the United Nations with movie and still cameras waiting to record the formal signing which Dr Subandrio hailed as “a very important national occasion ”

Dr. Subandrio hailed the agreement as completing the restoration of “Indonesian unity ” He expressed thanks to U Thant. Mr Bunker, and the Dutch negotiators. He said Mr Bunker “never spared himself physically and mentally in order to overcome all the difficulties and obstacles which sometimes seemed to block the path towards this agreement.” “The positive response from the Indonesian and Netherlands sides to your urgent appeal results in the agreement we just have signed.” he said. “World Watching”

Dr. van Roijen said that history’s judgment of the accord would depend on how its provisions were “carried out in practice. The whole world has been closely watching us. It will continue to do so.” he said He conceded that it had proved difficult, even at times “more than difficult” to bring the Netherlands and Indonesian delegates together. “But once we were gathered around the conference table we found that the Indonesian delegation and ourselves were equally committed in all sincerity to arrive a< a peaceful solution of our dispute.” Dr van Roijen said. “The foundations have now been laid, we hope, for a better understanding and ultimately a happier and fruitful relationship between our two countries and our two peoples.

“For the possibility of achieving the realisation of this hope, the touchstone will be our mutual good faith and our consistent efforts in fulfilling the terms of the agreement." he said. Washington Reaction In Washington, United States officials hailed the signing as a major step towards the preservation of peace in South-east Asia. The agreement was also seen as a triumph for the international peace - keeping machinery of the United Nations and the patient, be-hind-the-scenes diplomacy of the United States.

Both President Kennedy and his brother, the Attor-ney-General. Mr Robert Kenpedy. exerted their influence to bring the lengthy negotiations between the Netherlands and Indonesia to a successful conclusion.