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Otago Daily Times, Issue 26177, 13 June 1946, Page 5

DUTCH AND INDONESIANS IRONICAL SITUATION (From C. R. Mentiplay, N.Z. Press Association Special Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 12. When a small but smartfey-turned-out body of sailors .marched with fixed bayonets and flying colours in the Sydney Victory Parade the irony of the situation was not lost on Australian citizens. Cries of “ Good old squareheads ” and “ Don’t let the wharfles bluff you ” struck a note discordant with the general harmony of the demonstration. These men were a contingent from the Dutch destroyer Piet Hein, formerly H.M.S. Serapis, which, by touching at Australian ports, has entered the undeclared war raging between Holland and a section of the Australian workers. This war, which is now entering its tenth month, might well be construed by foreigners as having the full weight of Government approval. So far it has resulted in the immobilisation of all Dutch ships save one trading between Australia and the Netherlands East Indies, and the complete abandonment by Holland of large consignments of food, medical stores, and machinery bought and paid for in Australia. Waterside Workers’ Attitude The Australian waterside workers decided last September that the best way to help the rebel Indonesians was to refuse to handle cargoes intended for the East Indies. Their grounds for this were that earlier cargoes contained consignments of small arms and ammunition. This allegation was true. There were rifles and sub-machine guns m some cargoes, but these were quickly unloaded, and the Dutch guaranteed that the goods were relief supplies only. The fireams were meant, they said, for use by the police. In the meantime both the American and Australian Governments handed over to the Dutch surplus war supplies in the islands, which included complete 25-pounder batteries and other heavy arms. The waterside workers were so successful in preventing the delivery of 40,000 tons of supplies to the starving Dutch and Indonesians that finally the Dutch were reduced to selling stocks in Australia. Throughout this disastrous interchange, the Australian Government acted as nothing more than a benevolent neutral. Mr Chifley himself admitted that to take sterner measures would be to risk a general waterfront strike The Damaged Destroyer Dutch ships are still unable to leave ports. The sole exception is the steamer Tasman, well known in New Zealand waters, which relies for loading and unloading on the efforts of patriotic Dutch citizens and school children. The Piet Hein was damaged in a collision last November, but, partly on account of the emergency created by the Australian hold-up. she was kept at sea until repairs became vitally necessary Refused service at Fremantle, Port Adelaide, and Melbourne, she made for Sydney. At this stage, the Minister of the Navy, Mr N. J. Makin, stated that refusal was due to the fact that the Australian shipyards were fully occupied. Almost immediately he was forced to retract his statement when a shipyards management official announced that in at least one case it followed the attitude of the Ship Painters and Dockers’ Union. The Sydney branch of the union in the meantime declared the vessel “ black." Talks are being continued in Canberra between Mr Makin and navy officials, but there appears to be little hope that the Piet Hein will get the needed repairs. The strangest part of the story is that Dutch and Indonesian members of the crew marched together on Victory Day.