DUTCH INTERESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23968, 19 May 1941, Page 9

DUTCH INTERESTS

MINISTERS' VISIT

EAST INDIES DEFENCES

MANY, MODERN WA If PLANKS "If the Netherlands East Indies are attacked they will certainly fight and they <n'° well prepared to defend themselves," 'said Mr. E. N. Van Kleffens. Minister of Foreign Affairs, of the Netherlands, who has arrived in New Zealand from Australia on a brief visit, on his way hark, to London, where the Netherlands Government has its headquarters, .Mr. Van Kleffens is accompanied by Mrs. Van' Kleffens, Mr. C. J. I. .M. Welter, Colonial Minister, and a staff of three. Mr. \Y. G. Peekema, h.ead of the legal section of the Colonial Office, Mr. W. C. van Koehtoren-Limpurg, Counsellor to the Netherlands Legation at and Mr. F. L. J'ntgers. deputy-chief of Ihe economic division of the Colonial Otliee. Supplies of Aircraft A\"iii 11- both Ministers .said they wore not expert in military matters, they spoke with enthusiasm of the defences of the Netherlands Last Indies, which.! thev said, u ere growing progressively j stronger every week, as fresh supplies of aircraft and other equipment ar-j rived from the United States.

A high compliment had recently been paid to the air force of the Netherlands Mast Indies by Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, British Commander-in-Chief in the Far East, and this branch of the archipelago's defences had the most modern equipment available. Fighters, medium bombers and dive-bombers, of standard American make, were already in service in substantial numbers, and many more had been ordered. All pilots were Dutch, and although ■none had yet seen service, Mr. Welter said he was sure they would give a good account of themselves if called upon to fight. The Dutch wero as airminded as any other nation in the world, and if more warplanes could he obtained the fully-trained crews for them would be readily available. Attitude ol Natives In reply to questions concerning the attitude of the large native population of the Netherlands East Indies to the war, Mr. Van Kleffens said that some of the natives, specially those living in the more remote parts, naturally knew little about it. Not all the native races made good soldiers, but some did and wre well represented in the forces. Both Ministers expressed pleasure at the opportunity of visiting New Zealand and of meeting members of the Dominion Cabinet. Thev loft for Wellington last night and will have conversations with the acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. W. Nash, and other Ministers, before leaving for the United States by air in about a week. Meeting With Mr. Fraser "We met your Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, in Sourabaya, and had a conversation of over an hour with him," Mr. Van Kleffens said. "We found him a well-informed and intelligent man. Before leaving London we also met the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, and it was at his suggestion that we took the opportunity of coming to Australia and New Zealand." Although they had not come on any definite mission they would while in New Zealand exchange views on matters of current importance, he continued. It was possible that reciprocal trade would enter into the discussions.

and they hoped that New Zealand might to able to follow Britain's lead in purchasing tea from Java. I'he Netherlands East Indies could absorb F/itne of New Zealand's butter, meat 'and fruit, and they would be pleased to examine closely any suggestions that might he received concerning trade development. Reception in Auckland Tho party was met on arrival bv the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langfitone, the' chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. Hendry Luke, the Consul for the Netherlands. Mr. M. F. Vigeveno, of Wellington, the vice-con-sul in Auckland, Captain F. Bauer, and Mr. E. W. F. B. L. Hendricks, New Zealand president of the Netherlands Freedom Day. La tor, at the Grand Hotel, they met the Rt. Hon. J. G. Contes, a member of the War Cabinet. Mr. Van -Kleffens became Minister of Foreign Affairs in 19.59 when the de Leer Cabinet, was formed. He was formerly secretary-general to the control board of the International Law Academy at the Hague. Mr. Welter has had many .years' experience in the Netherlands' Fast Indies and in 1929 hecame Vice-President of the High Advisory Council. He is now serving his third term as Colonial Minister.