JAVANESE WARNING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21852, 24 October 1945, Page 5

JAVANESE WARNING

BLOODBATH RISK RETURN OF DUTCH SOEKARNO'S VIOLENCE BATAVIA, Oct. 22. The Indonesian Nationalists announced that they had warned the commander of the Allied occupation forces in Java, Lieutenant-General Sir Philip Christison, that it is beyond their power to ensure the safety of 250,000 Dutch and Eurasian residents in Java, The Nationalists claimed that endless bloodshed would ensue if more Dutch troops were landed. At Semarang, Java’s third largest city, Gurkha troops are now in full control. They have taken over pris-oner-of-war and internee camps. The inmates of the camps at Ambarawa, 28 miles south of Semarang, are also safe. A British spokesman said that a mob killed 11 Dutch officers in the mountainous territory between Batavia and Bandoeng. The extremists also killed nine Dutch nationals whom they spirited away from prison at Buitenzorg. Extremists Cause Trouble

Although order is being maintained at Semarang, bandits and extremists are still making trouble on the outskirts. Two American officials, BrigadierGeneral Pape, American Liaison officer at Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten’s South-east Asia Command Headquarters, and William Foote, ex-Consul-General in Batavia, hav arrived in Batavia. General Pape said: “We have no political interest in these islands. No American combat troops will be sent here.” They said they would talk with people representing all viewpoints, including members of the socalled Nationalist Government. General Christison Assailed Taxing General Christison with having involved himself in internal politics, Dr. Soekarno, president of the Indonesian Nationalists, in a violent letter of protest, called on the general to desist from the course of action which will “ultimately result in drenching Indonesia in a blood bath.” The letter alleged that it was General Christison’s intention evidently to extend his protection to the Dutch until such time as they had built up a sizeable force which would operate against the Indonesians. When that objective had been attained, the British would leave Indonesia protesting that they had not taken sides. “Tension is mounting,” said the letter. “I and my fellow workers are experiencing the greatest difficulty in keeping the restive population in check. If the present tension remains, the task of calming the masses will be beyond us and the Left Wing and Radical elements will wrench the leadership from us. Even now, such elements. Communist-minded and Communist-led, are actively working for power. The Dutch under-rate the spirit of the Indonesian people and cannot wage a long and bloody war. “War to Knife” May Ensue

“This is our country and we know every inch of it. The whole population will back us up. In the final analysis you cannot avoid responsibility for war to the knife that must inevitably ensue between the Indonesians and the Dutch.” A message from Karachi, India, says that Mr. Jinnah, President of the Moslem League, declared that it would be a tragedy if Dutch Imperialism were re-established.

“The Moslem League is in full sympathy with all those countries fighting and struggling for freedom and to end the domination, exploitation, and imperialism,” he said. When action became necessary, the Moslem League would bo ready to join hands with any organisation to translate its sympathy into action. Mr. Nehru, adviser to the Congress Party, has called for immediate Allied recognition of the Provisional Government of Indonesia under Dr. Soekarno and for the withdrawal of British troops from the territory.