MORAL OBLIGATION

Evening Star, Issue 25617, 18 October 1945, Page 5

MORAL OBLIGATION

LAW AND ORDER MUST BE MAINTAINED BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S POSITION (Rec. 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 17. The British Government was not only under a strong moral obligation to its Dutch Allies, but it had to maintain law and order, said the Prime Minister, Mr <5. R. Attlee, in a statement in the House of Commons on (British policy regarding Indonesia. He added that the Government did not desire to be unnecessarily involved in tho administration or the political affairs of non-British territories.- Its object was to withdraw British troops as soon as circumstances permitted. ' The whole' delicate problem was engaging the most careful attention of the British Government. There were the closest consultations with the Netherlands Government and Admiral .Lord Louis Mountbatten about the measures to be taken. Mr Attleo said that in the first instance it was necessary to place on the Japanese the responsibility for maintaining law and order outside certain areas throughout South-east Asia Command, but it was found in Java that the Japanese had largely relinquished control to tho Indonesian independence movement. While a careful account must be taken of this movement there must be care about accepting its claims at face value. It was sponsored by the Japanese for two or three years, during which the people had been cut off from all outside developments. Mr Anthony Eden asked whether it would be borne in mind that the Netherlands Government's difficulties were largely due to its own action as an ally in declaring war on the Japanese. Mr Attlee replied that the Government was very •conscious of. the fact that the Netherlands Government stood with us and was suffering inevitably from the war.

The ißev. R. W. Sorensen (Lab.. West Ley ton) said Labour • members were very disturbed at what seemed to be collaboration of Japanese and British in using force in Indonesia. Mr Attlee replied: "If the honourable member and his friends think that, they are under a wrong impression."