DUTCH ACTION IN INDONESIA CHALLENGE TO ASIA-MR. NEHRU

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22850, 21 January 1949, Page 5

DUTCH ACTION IN INDONESIA CHALLENGE TO ASIA-MR. NEHRU

(From Roy Macartney, Special A.A.P. Correspondent) (10,30 a.m.) NEW DELHI, Jan, 20. Mr. Nehru, in opening the Asian conference on Indonesia, said they had met because a sister country’s freedom had been imperilled and the dying colonialism of a past age had raised its head again and challenged all the forces struggling to build up a new structure of the world.

"That challenge has a deeper significance than might appear on the surface for it is a challenge to newlyawakened Asia which so long has suffered under various forms of colonialism,” said Mr. Nehru. “The United Nations Organisation, the symbol of one world that has become the ideal of men of thought and goodwill, has been flouted and its expressed will set at nought. Effect on Entire World “If this challenge is not met effectively, then, indeed, the consequences will affect not merely Indonesia but Asia and the entire world-" Mr. Nehru added that the conference represented an area embracing half the circumference of the globe and a far greater part of its population from Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines on one side to Egypt and Ethiopia on the other.

"We are living in a revolutionary age of transition,” he said. "On one hand there is a divided, disintegrating world and the ever-present fear of a world war. On the other, there are creative co-operative impulses seeking new integration and unity. “The Americans have already recognised a certain community interest and created machinery for the protection and promotion of common interests. Is it not natural that the free countries of Asia should begin to think of some more permanent arrangement than this conference for effective mutual consultation and concerted effort in pursuit of common aims?” Only the New Zealand and Ethiopian seats were vacant when Mr. Nehru opened the conference. Dutch Ambassador Attends The Dutch Ambassador to India. Dr. Lamping was seated at the back of the hall in the diplomats' gallery. Dr. Burton, Australia, said the conference was meeting to draw detailed suggestions on how the principles of the United Nations might be implemented. "The Australian Government will give immediate, earnest consideration to the reports and observations which will be taken back to it at the conclusion of the conference by its officials," he said. "Australia, as a member of the Security Council representing this area at the time of the Dutch action, has from the first made every endeavour to obtain a settlement of the dispute. We shall not be content until peace is restored. The conference was called because “Dutch intransigeance in Indonesia and the failure of the Security Council to deal effectively with the-situation." Permanent Group Likely

Politically, they symbolised in particular the spirit of freedom and democracy which were so signficant a feature of the new Asia.

“Asia, too long submissive and dependent and the plaything of other

One of the most important developments of lobbying on the eve of the Asian conference has been a move to get the conference to agree to some form of permanent machinery to continue its work. The Philippines delegate, General Carlos Romulo, has come out openly behind a suggestion which is known to have the influential support of other nations.,

General Romulo told the correspondent that the conference might agree to some association in Lake Success of delegates of the Aslan nations represented at the current conference together with a small permanent secretariat in New Delhi. “The Asian nations would thus be able to follow up what the Security Council did with the conference’s recommendations, said General Romulo, and take further action should Holland disregard the Security Council instructions. Supplanting Russia Another important opinion emerging from the preliminary exchange of views has been that Mr. Nehru called the conference largely so that the Asian countries could take over the championing of the Indonesian Republican cause which Russia hitherto assumed. General Romulo stressed this point and a top-ranking Indian Government official. close to Mr. Nehru in foreign affairs also endorsed it. General Romulo declared that the Asian conference, instead of widening the difference between East and West would bring them closer together. “It will bring like-minded democratic Eastern and Western countries into, closer partnership against communism, said General Romulo.

countries, will ho longer brook any interference with her freedom,” he declared.

Since Indonesia was reconquered from the Japanese by the Allied forces and then handed over to the Dutch, a special responsibility to the Allied nations.

No Surrender to Aggression

Referring to the recent developments, Mr. Nehru said: “The directions of the Security Council have not yet been carried out and the Dutch authorities seem to be concentrating all their efforts on the formation of the so-called Interim Government which, they hope, will be subservient to their will. “If open, unabashed aggression is not checked and condoned by other Powers, then hope will vanish and people will resort to other ways and other means, even though these might involve the utmost; catastrophe. One thing is certain there can and will be no surrender to aggression and no acceptance or re-imposilion of colonial control.” No representative attending the conference on Indonesia, other than Mr. Nehru, will have power to commit his country to any course of action, according to well-informed circles. Any recommendations forwarded to the Security Council will have to be ratified by practically every country represented before they are effectively supported. All the representatives and observers except New Zealand's have now arrived in New Delhi. The New Zealand observer, Mr. R. Inglis. who is Trade Commissioner in Bombay, is expected to arrive by air today.

Threefold Task Saying they were reluctant to take any step which might appear to weaken the United Nations’ authority, _ Mr. Nehru said: ‘‘We meet, therefore, within the framework of the United Nations and with the noble words of the charter before us. “The conference is a regional one to which we invited both Australia and New Zealand whose interest in the tranquility and contentment of Indonesia’ is as great as that of any of us. “We meet in no spirit of hostility to any nation or group of nations. Our task will be threefold: 1. To frame and submit to the Security Council proposals which would, if accepted by both parties concerned, restore peace immediately to Indonesia and permit early realisation of freedom by the Indonesian oeople. 2. Suggest to the Security Council what action it should take if either party to the dispute fails to act according to ifs recommendation.

3. To devise machinery and procedures whereby Ihe Governments represented here todav can keep in touch with one another for the purpose of mutual consultation and concerted action for the achievement of the purposes for which this conference met.”

Dangerous Possibilities The situation in Indonesia was full of dangerous possibilities and required urgent action, said Mr. Nehru. The conference, must, therefore, complete its work as quickly as possible so that the Security Council, which is still considering the Indonesian problem, should be in possession of the conference’s views within a few days.