INDONESIAN OPINION

Evening Star, Issue 25698, 23 January 1946, Page 5

INDONESIAN OPINION

PREFER BRITISH TO " STICK AROUND" NO APPEAL MADE TO U.N.O. . <(Rec. 11.5 a.m.) BATAVIA, Jan. 22. Indonesians appreciated world interest in Java, but if the Russians did not mind they, preferred the-. British to " stick around " until the Japanese were removed, said Dr Sjahrir in an interview with the Associated Press correspondent in Batavia. 1 He added that the removal of Rapwi personnel began with the arrival of a train load from Mjalang. When that job was finished they would bring out the Japanese. If the British withdrew now the Japanese might refuse to lay down their arms and resist. Dr Sjahrir said when the internees and Japanese were removed the British should be sufficiently convinced that Indonesian administrative ability would enable the British to quit Java promptly after completion of the Allied Powers' assignment. His Governnment had not appealed to U.N.0., preferring to reserve such action in case other attempts at settlement failed. He added that if any nation was to bring up the subject of British "troops in Java it was appropriate for Russia to do so, because she was the major Power with the least direct interest in Indonesia and was thus better able to treat the matter as a moral issue.