Indonesian Armistice

Northern Advocate, 16 January 1948, Page 3

Indonesian Armistice

LONDON, Thu. 01.30)—Netherlands Prime Minister Louis Bee! told the Second Chamber of the States General that the Dutch and Indonesian Republics in Java will “very probably” sign an armistice cn January 17, says Reuters correspondent at The Hague.

From Batavia it is reported from Dutch sources that the Lieutenant-Gov-ernor (Dr van Mook) was informed today that the Indonesian Republic had accepted the latest proposals for a truce and agreed to certain political principles for substantive settlement. INTERIM CEASE-FIRE .

The Sjavifuddin Cabinet had been deliberating since Sunday on the proposals. and members of the Republican delegation to the 11-weeks-old ceasefire talks, together with military and other advisers to the Security Council Good Offices Committee, returned to Batavia from Jogjakarta by plane today.

They refused to confirm or deny reports of the acceptance of the proposals.

An interim cease-fire is expected to result from the immediate issuing of a stand-fast by Dutch and Republican army commanders, thus ending the two years and five months of intermittent fighting. PRINCIPAL PRINCIPLE

The principal political principle, said to be agreed upon, provides for eventual. plebiscites in the disputed areas of Java, Sumatra and Madura.

Following reports that the proposals had been accepted Jogjakarta radio announced the withdrawal of the Islamic Party, Musjumi, from the Sjarifuddin Cabinet.

The Dutch News Agency said the Vice-Premier (Sjamsuddin) . and the Minister of the Interior (Roem) would resign as. the result of the party’s withdrawal.