Success Forecast In Dutch-Indies Talks

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22808, 1 December 1948, Page 7

Success Forecast In Dutch-Indies Talks

(10 a.m.)

SYDNEY. Dec. 1

A forecast that negotiations between the Dutch Government and the Indonesian Republic would be successful was made by Dr- H. C. Coombs, the Australian delegate to the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East today. He moved that an application by Indonesia for admittance as an associate member will be deferred until the next meeting of the commission. The associate membership gives the country the right to speak but not to vote. Dr, Coombs said that Australia had friendship and sympathy for the Republican movement and warm regard for the Dutch and did not want anything done by the conference that might impair negotiations. Tiie Indian delegate, Mr. C. C. Desai. said that the application should only be deferred if it embarrassed two parties. Postponement without knowing the Indonesian views was only begging the issue. The United States delegate, Mr. Myron Cowen, favoured a postponement, Japan’s Economy An objection by the Soviet Ambassador, M. N. M. Lifanov, that .the discussion of a report on Japanese economy contained in the provisional agenda did not come within the competence of the commission and, therefore, should be deleted was overruled. M. Lifanov maintained that this question was the responsibility of the Far Eastern Commission.

The Indian delegate, Mr. C. C. Desai, pointed out that the discussion of Japanese economy had been postponed last session and a working party had been formed to investigate the position. The report was now before the committee and it was too late to raise objections.

Mr- Desai claimed that the rehabilitation of devastated Far Eastern countries was well within the competence of the commission. Australia, New Zealand and China also objected to the Soviet amendment.