DUTCH COLONIAL RULE IN PACIFIC NOW CONCLUDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27274, 28 December 1949, Page 5

DUTCH COLONIAL RULE IN PACIFIC NOW CONCLUDED

New Zealand Press Association—Reuter—Copyright Rec. 9.16 p.m. THE HAGUE, Dec. 27. At a simple ceremony today, Queen Juliana will personally hand over power to the new United Republic of Indonesia—ending 340 years of Dutch colonial rule in the Pacific. Queen Juliana, by signing the Act of transfer of power, will cease to be ruler of Indonesia. Fhe will, instead, become head of the Netherlands-Indonesian Union. In Batavia troop carriers rumbled into the city before dawn today taking Indonesian battalions to security defence posts commanding the mainroad junctions and entrances to the ■ city. Dutch sentries-* with fixed bayonets paced inside the barbed wire perimeters of the Netherlands Army barracks where the European forces have been confined during the sovereignty celebrations. Dutch civilians have kept off the streets and many Dutch private homes are in an unofficial state of seige, reflecting nervousness which broadcast appeals to keep calm have failed entirely to allay. Similar conditions are reported to prevail in other towns throughout Indonesia.

The city of Batavia will henceforth be named Jacarta. This was announced by the Indonesian Military Governor today. Jacarta is the name of the old Indonesian city on the site on which the Dutch built Batavia nearly 300 years ago.

Indonesia formally became a sovereign independent nation today when Queen Juliana signed her assent to the transfer of sovereignty. The assent was the first document she signed in a ceremony at the Royal Palace. Later, the Queen signed the act of transfer of sovereignty and recognition. In a brief speech, Queen Juliana said the transfer was “ one of the most profound and moving events of this time. It is a privilege to perform this act. The deep sympathy of both people for each other has never been so clear. We no longer stand opposed to each other but are side by side.” She added that Holland looked “ with anxiety” at the heaviness of the task that the new States was shouldering Everyone in Holland agreed with the principle of the transfer, and the Netherlands was ready to help as soon as Indonesia asked for aid. The Indonesian Premier, Dr Mohammed Hatta, declared: “I hope the relations between our two countries will develop in the direction that will lead to the prosperity and happiness of our two people.”