DUTCH MINISTERS’ VISIT

Southland Times, Issue 24438, 19 May 1941, Page 6

DUTCH MINISTERS’ VISIT

Stronger Defences In

East Indies

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, May . 18. “If the Netherlands East Indies is attacked it will certainly fight and. it is well prepared to defend itself,” said Dr E. N. Van Kieffens, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, who has arrived in New Zealand from Sydney on a brief visit on his way back to London, where the Netherlands Government has its headquarters. He is accompanied by Mrs Van Kieffens, M. Charles Welter, Colonial Minister, and a staff of three. While both Ministers said they were not expert in military matters, they spoke with enthusiasm of the defences of the Netherlands East Indies, which they said were growing progressively stronger every week as fresh supplies of aircraft and other equipment arrived from the United States. A high compliment had recently been paid to the Air Force of, the Netherlands East 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 the standard American make were already in service in substantial numbers, and many more had been ordered. All the pilots were Dutchmen, and although none had yet seen service, M. Welter said he was sure they would give a good account of themselves if called upon to fight. The Dutch were as air-minded as any other nation in the world, and if more warplanes could be obtained fullytrained crews for them would be readily available. In reply to a question about the attitude of the large native population of the Netherlands East Indies to the war, Dr Van Kieffens said some of the natives, especially those living in the more remote parts, naturally knew little about it. Not all the native races made good soldiers, but some did and were well represented in the forces. Both Ministers expressed pleasure at the opportunity of visiting New Zealand and of meeting members of the Dominion Cabinet. They left for Wellington tonight 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’s time.