Conference Called-- Dutch Move To Break Indonesian Deadlock

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 February 1949, Page 6

Conference Called--Dutch Move To Break Indonesian Deadlock

BATAVIA, February 26.

th a move intended to break the Indonesian deadlock, the Dutch Government has decided to release the Republican and has invited all parties concerned to a round-table conference at The Hague on March 12 to discuss ways arid means of accelerating the transfer of sovereignty to a representative federal government. The Republican leaders, iricluding the President, Dr Soekarno, have been interned in North Sumatra since the Dutch began their offensive in December. The Security Council, on January 28, called on the Dutch Government to release the Republican leaders immediately and unconditionally. '

The Dutch Government decided a speed up of the transfer of Dutch sovereignty over Indonesia to a representative federal government was necessary for a satisfactory solution of the Indonesian problem. It has therefore decided to endeavour to transfer sovereignty . considerably earlier than July 1, 1950, the date laid down in the resolution of the Security Council on January 28. A leading Republican political figure in Batavia said: “If. the proposed conference is a method of iriiplemeritirig the Security Council’s resolution, our attitude towards it may be favourable; but if it is to. be a means of avoiding the Security Council’s resolution, nothing will come of it.”