CONFERENCES IN WASHINGTON

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 195, 14 May 1940, Page 8

CONFERENCES IN WASHINGTON

Dutch East Indies

AUSTRALIAN ENVOY IN CONSULTATION* (By Telegraph.—Press Assu.—Copyi !. (Received May 13, 9.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 12. The Australian Minister, Air. R. G. Casey, is closely consulting the State Department and the British Embassy regarding the Dutch East Indies. It is understood that important conferences have been held in the last 36 hours. Much information is 'reaching Washington about the East Indies and is being studied very closely.

LONDON, May 12. A message from Singapore states that the Netherlands Indies took the news of the invasion of the mother country calmly as the people were quite prepared, knowing the danger of their Nazi neighbour and the Governments plans for such a contingency. Though martial law has been declared, mobilization has not yet been ordered. It is most unlikely that there will be auv interruption or disruption of trade "between the Indies and other countries. The British Government has previously expressed its interest in the maintenance of the status quo in the Netherlands East Indies (states British Official Wireless). This attitude, it may bo stated, remains unchanged. The Government has no intention whatever of'intervening in the East Indies, nor has any suggestion been made from any quarter that it should do so. West Indies Security. It was emphasized today in an official quarter in London that the dispatch of Allied forces to the islands of Curacao and Aruba (Dutch West Indies) was decided upon in full agreement with the Netherlands Government to ensure that the Governor would, at a moment’s notice and as soon as he deemed it necessary, be able to dispose of a sufficient force to prevent sabotage of the important oii refinery. In spite of the energetic action already taken by the Governor it was regarded as essential that additional forces should at once be made available to cope with any emergency. The intention is that as soon as the Netherlands Government is satisfied that security has been fully established, or additional Dutch forces are available in sufficient numbers, an immediate withdrawal of the British and French ■forces will be effected.