Sukarno Claims Living Standard Rising

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30401, 28 March 1964, Page 13

Sukarno Claims Living Standard Rising

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright)

DJAKARTA, March 26.

President Sukarno today claimed that the standard of living in Indonesia was higher than during the country’s colonial period. During a speech at the State palace, which marked the installation of the national productivity council, he said although it was true that Indonesia had to import rice because of the growing population, rice production was three times higher than before the revolution.

“It is true that many aims of the revolution have not been accomplished but this does not mean we have accomplished nothing,” he said.

President Sukarno claimed it was “stupid” for Indonesia to depend on foreign aid.

He reiterated statements made yesterday that Indonesia’s economic structure would never collapse and said “we will march on to create a just and prosperous society.” Yesterday, in a speech, he said America could “go to hell” with her foreign aid and today he said “We shall not beg or sell our lives to get dollars. We must depend on ourselves. We are stupid indeed if we fail to provide

enough for the people.”

President Sukarno has said previously that Indonesia’s resources are sufficient to sustain more than 200 million people. Her present population totals about 103 million people, with about 65 per cent of this total on Java.

Yesterday, President Sukarno said: “We can do without aid. We’ll never collapse.” He then pointed a finger at the U.S. Ambassador (Mr Howard Jones) and said: “There is one country threatening to stop its foreign aid. That country thinks it can scare Indonesia. I say go to hell with your aid.” Angry Reaction

President Sukarno was described as a “minor-league Hitler who has been mollycoddled long enough” by the United States, in a speech in the U.S. House of Representatives today by Republican William Broomfield, of Michigan, top-ranking republican on the House Far East Sub-com-mittee.

Mr Broomfield and other

congressmen reacted angrily to the speech in which President Sukarno told the United States, “to hell with your aid."

“As far as I’m concerned that’s exactly where he can got to get it,” said representative William Harsha, a Republican. Republican Broomfield told the House: “I would like to respectfully suggest that the State Department convey to Sukarno our belief that anyone who has had dealings with Sukarno has already been there (in hell). Certainly he has turned his formerly rich country into a living hell which is no longer able to feed its people or take care of their needs.”

He said that President Sukarno instead has made Indonesia “a bully to its small neighbour Malaysia,” and in doing so, “wastes the labour of its people on weapons of destruction.” President Johnson should realise now that “there is nothing vital in our interest in continuing aid to Sukarno,” Republican Broomfield said.