ADVERSE U.S. REACTION A WORRY TO DUTCH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22827, 23 December 1948, Page 7

ADVERSE U.S. REACTION A WORRY TO DUTCH

(N.Z.P.A. —Reuter—Copyright.) LONDON, Dec. 21

The Netherlands Ambassador to Washington, Dr. E. Van Kleffens, todayconferred with the United States Undersecretary of State, Mr. K. Lovett, “to try to get some clarification as to the position of the United States and to see whether both sides have got the facts right.” The Netherlands Embassy is known to be extremely concerned at the unfavourable public reaction to the Dutch military operations in Indonesia and feels the adverse opinion is based on lack of the real facts of the situation. United States officials, it was reported fear that the Dutch have played into the Communists’ hands by resorting to force and that the Western Powers may suffer an Asiatic setback in the “cold war” with Russia. They feel that Indonesia’s Communists may patch up their bitter feud with the Nationalists and unite in guerrilla warfare against the Dutch. Dr. Soemitro, the Indonesian Minister to Washington, said today that the Indonesian Government would establish a Government in exile only as a last resort. Dr. Soemitro added that he believed some other Governments besides the Indonesian Republic were urging the United States to cut off Economic Cooperation Administration aid to the Netherlands. Boycott of Dutch Ships Urged Dr. Soemitro said the Australian wharf labourers’ refusal to load Dutch ships had been a “tremendous help” in Indonesia’s struggle. "We intend asking the American unions also not to load Dutch ships,’’ he said. “The first results of the Government’s military action in Indonesia have fulfilled the highest expectations,” the Prime Minister, Dr. Dress, told a special session of the Dutch Parliament yesterday. It was not to be expected, he said, that the rest of the world would immediately see how necessary was the Dutch action. It would, in time, be better appreciated. The Government, he added, had no political aims other than the realisation of the principles laid down in the agreements with the Republic and the other partner States. A Dutch Communist resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Indonesia was defeated by 80 votes to eight, says the British United Press correspondent. , Firm Stand by U.N. Expected The Indonesian Republic’s representative in Britain, Dr. Soebandrio. alleged at a London press conference today that the Dutch Government had launched a military attach on the Indonesian Republic after assurances had been given to the United Nations Security Council only the previous night. Dr. Soebandrio added: “We now place our hopes on our army and on the support of the people. We expect the Security Council to take a very firm stand against the Dutch Government and to demand the withdrawal of Dutch troops to their previously held positions.”

Dr. Soebandrio estimated the Dutch forces to total 140,000. He put the Indonesian troops at between 200,000 and 300,000.

The Dutch Ambassador in London, Jonkheer Michiels van Verduynen, called on the United States Ambassador, Mr. Lewis Douglas, before the latter left for Washington and explained why Holland had resumed hostilities in Indonesia. There was some anxiety in London that the Indonesian affair, unless promptly resolved by the Security Council may complicate negotiations for the Atlantic pact now proceeding in Washington. Observers believe that the diversion of Dutch military strength into a colonial war might weaken Holland’s ability to play her expected part in the Western Union defence preparations.