FUTURE OF INDIES

Dominion, Volume 39, Issue 28, 27 October 1945, Page 7

FUTURE OF INDIES

America As Mediator (By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright.) LONDON, October 26. Another move is being made in Java to bring about a settlement of the trouble there. The American ConsulGeneral in Java is seeing the nation-alist-president, Dr. Soekarno, today. Correspondents say that a meeting between the Nationalists and Netherlands representatives is likely at the week-, end and that the Allied commander in the area, General Christison, will be there. One of Dr. Soekarno's representatives has said that the nationalist lenders are ready to meet any parties to discuss the future of Ipdonesia. This follows informal talks between Dr. Soekarno and Mr. Denning, the British political adviser t<> Admiral Mountbatteu. Correspondents say this represents a considerable change in the Nationalist attitude. Till now. they have refused to meet representatives of the Netherlands Government.

Two Indonesian leaders. Dr. Soeuartejo and Mr. Arnie Sjarif/ddin, the Information Minister; previously said they were prepared to meet Dr. Van Mook, but preferably on neutral ground and suggested the American Consulate, with Mr. Foote as unofficial chairman. They said it would not be fair to ask a British official to act as intermediary in the light of Mr. Attlee’s pronouncement and the tasks to which the British military leaders were officially committed. Nevertheless, it is clear that the meeting at General Christison’e house greatly impressed the Indonesian Cabinet and made evident the peculiar position in which the occupation force stands. A report was circulated yesterday that Mr. Denning paid a special visit to Mr. Sjarifuddin. who is a moderate with a good record under Dutch rule and. having been imprisoned by the Japanese during the occupation and ill-treated, because of his underground activities, ie above suspicion in Dutch eyes. Mr. Sjarifuddin denied the meeting and said that his Cabinet had agreed that no unilateral meet-

ings should be held in the interest of solidarity. The moderate Indonesians went a step further in the direction of a compromise tonight, when Mr. Sjarifuddin. on behalf of Cabinet, issued an official statement, repeating that lie was prepared to open informal talks as an approach to a serious discussion of the problem. So fur there has been no official Dutch reaction, but the Dutch are hardly likely at this stage to accept the presence of a third party if the talks are held. They probably take the view that as the present offer represents a victory for the moderate influence in the party, time is on their side, and a little further delay will bring about an unconditional offer to parley. Tonight’s statement says: “On the grounds that the Indonesian question not only affects the reconstruction of the new world order, but is also vital to a lasting peace, the Republican movement is of the opinion that a discussion can only be fruitful if it is held on an international platform. “The Indonesian Government stresses that, it is uprepared to open discussions on the basis that the right of self-deter-mination of the Indonesian peoples i« acknowledged.” Acknowledgement of the right seems to be a stop down from demanding that the Netherlands should be handed over on a plate and it is significant that this is the view of Mr. Sjarifuddin. whose name has suddenly popped into the news. Mr. Sjarifuddin is persona grata with the Dutch for two reasons. Not only is his war record good—he was sentenced to death by the Japanese —but he served before tile war under Dr. Van Mook in the Department of Economic' Affairs. He is a Sumatran, and is the most; alert and interesting member of the Cabinet. Surabaya Occupied.

British troops occupied Surabaya today without opposition. Two battalions of Mahrattas of the 49th Indian Brigade and one battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, with a field company, landed from a transport and landing craft. Thunderbolts from two squadrons stationed in Batavia arrived simultaneously and flew over the town.

Earlier it was reported that the situation in Surabaya was grave and chaotic. Some Allied units engaged in the recovery of Allied prisoners of war and internees had been imprisoned by Nationalists. Seventeen Europeans and Eurasians died as the result of beatings received in jail. There were street fights daily.