DUTCH BEGIN MILITARY ACTION AGAINST TERRORISTS

Grey River Argus, 20 December 1948, Page 5

DUTCH BEGIN MILITARY ACTION AGAINST TERRORISTS

(Rec 10.20) BATAVIA, Dec 19. The Netherlands had denounced the truce with the Republicans and had commenced a “purge” against the terrorising powers in the Republican territory, Dr. Louis Reel, a high representative of the Netherlands Crown in a broadcast here ’.oday. He said: "The recovery of this sick country cannot begin properly until the Republican territory has been purged of the terrorising powers. This purge will be carried out consistently and thoroughly. With ail of the police and military means available, we shall restlessly pursue the gangs of terrorists, and we snail no longer suffer them to carry on their attrocities, either in the territories that already are under our control, or in the territories we are going to liberate.” Addressing the Dutch armed forces, Dr. BeM said, “You do nol advance in order to occupy enemy territory, but to bring justice and security where lawlessiess has ruled before. Show, by your deeds, that nobody, whoever he be, has anything to fear from you if he fulfils his peaceful task.” Dr. Beel, at a press conference, declined to give operational news regarding Dutch military action against the Republicans, but he said that action began at midnight.

The U.N.O. Good Offices Committee and the Indonesian delegation in Batavia were informed half an hour before th e operations began.

Dr. Beel stated that Dr. Sukarno stated that other Republican leaders would be treated with the courtesy due to their rank. The Republican troops would, for the moment be treated as prisoners of war, but arrangements would be made to. return them to civil life at the earliest opportunity. The Dutch Government has rejected a letter from the Republican Premier, Mohamed Hatta, proposing further negotiations after the talks in Java had broken down.