NOT RECOGNISED BY ALLIES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23321, 3 October 1945, Page 5

NOT RECOGNISED BY ALLIES

“Indonesian Republic” More Troops Landed Av relperanh N Z -.. . , (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) BATAVIA, Oct. 1. Dr. Soekarno and Mr Hatta, President and Vice-President of the Indonesian Republican Government, have been told that the Allied military authorities cannot recognise the “Indonesian Republic.” They have also been told that they need have no fear of arrest provided they are prepared to cooperate as public figures, and not as political office-bearers, in removing lawlessness and helping to relieve distress in Java. The message, which was given also to a number of members of Dr. Soekarno’s "Cabinet,” was taken to Dr. Soekarno by a British staff officer on behalf of Rear-Admiral Paterson, senior representative in Java of Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten. Indonesian leaders were also told that they could have freedom of movement, although it was desired that they should remain in the neighbourhood of Batavia. The staff officer said later that Dr. Soekarno and Mr Hatta had said that they had Instructed their followers to co-operate for the good of law and order with the Allied forces. When the officer told' them they must not construe his visit as recognition of their Cabinet, they said they realised that the Allied forces who had come to Java could not give them official recognition, and that the most important task was the relief of misery. Indonesians were also told that the only government was the Allied military administration set up by Lord Mountbatten. Dr. Hubertus van Mook, LieutenantGovernor of the Netherlands East Indies, is expected in Batavia soon. The Chief of Police, Mahammet Jasim, said that law and order would be maintained in Java as long as there were Allied forces present, but he said trouble would follow when the Dutch tried to rule alone. Allied forces continue to arrive in Java, where Sir Phillip Christlson will take over as Allied commander. Netherlands Attitude The Netherlands Government Information Office, in a statement issued at The Hague, says: “Holland has refused to enter into discussions with the Soekarno Government. The occupation of Java remains restricted for the time being to the towns of Batavia and Sourabaya, and this leaves open the question of who is to exercise authority on the remainder of the island. It is, of course, impossible to turn such authority over to the Japanese, who will have to be disarmed and made prisoners of war.” The statement added that the Dutch were not yet able to move troops to take over authority, and the difficulties in consequence of this probably explained the tendency in some British circles to recognise the Soekarno Government as the de facto administration. The Netherlands Government could not do this. The Dutch Minister for Overseas Territories, Professor J. H. A. Logeman, stated that Australian Trade Unionists who struck in sympathy with the Soekarno Government are misguided. He described Dr. Soekarno as a distrusted demagogue with Fascist tendencies and a Japanese supporter. It was useless to talk to such a man, who was always changing his policies and who, in Japanese-sponsored radio talks, uttered such slogans as: “We shall iron out America. We shall break open England with a crowbar. Indonesians’ duty is to do or die with the Japanese.” Professor Logeman said that Dutch forces, including Indonesians, were expected to reach Java within a month or two. Indonesians in force were nationalists who trusted the Dutch Government to implement the promise of a democratic government in the Netherlands East Indies on the basis of equal partnership with Holland. Professor Logeman added: “We shall have to educate Indonesians to build up a new nation. We are ready to do it, and will do it, but we will not allow Governments like Dr. Soekarno’s to disturb our plans." Professor Logeman said Dr. Soekarno before the war was exiled for nine years because of seditious speeches. He did not return to the mainland until the Japanese installed him in the puppet government which had no power until the Japanese surrendered. Professor Logeman said he did not expect organised resistance when the Dutch forces arrived, but if there were, it would be suppressed by force. The Netherlands representative, Mr C. H. van der Plas, told a Press conference in Batavia that the Netherlands East Indies would achieve complete independence but an independence based not on violence or terrorism. He termed the situation in Java as potentially explosive.

Will Fight For Independence

Indonesian Claim (11.50 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 1. Dr. Soekarno, President of the Indonesian Republic, announced that 70,000,000 natives, having proclaimed their independence, will fight any attempt to restore Dutch sovereignty to the Netherlands East Indies, says the Batavia ' correspondent of the “New York Herald-Tribune.” The vanguard of the British occupation force got a friendly reception, but not a single Dutch flag was hoisted, except one outside the Allied headquarters. Tlie only’ flag seen elsewhere was the red and white emblem of the new Indonesian Government. Mr van der Plas (senior Dutch representative) said the Netherlands was prepared to offer the Indonesians complete autonomy in a few years. This proposal was received coolly in Nationalist quarters. Haji Salim, one of the founders of the Nationalist movement, said: “We have had Dutch promises for 350 years. We would not hesitate to start even a new world war, if the Dutch try to re-establish themselves.” It is reported from Batavia that the first small detachment of Netherlands Indies troops to return to Java airborne from Borneo is now on duty in Batavia. The group consisted of 15 liberated prisoners of war, mostly Indonesians.

Climax Reached

Ship-Loading Dispute (8.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Oct. 2. The dispute between the Dutch authorities and Indonesians over the loading of ships for the East Indies reached a climax when three Indonesians, including two corporals in the Netherlands East Indies Army, were arrested at an Indonesian hostel in Melbourne. One of the men had spoken at a public meeting on Sunday when support for the Indonesian republican movement was urged. Another has been working with the Netherlands East Indies information service until the week-end. Tire arrests were made by Dutch and coloured servicemen from the Dutch East Indies, accompanied by plain-clothes police and Australian Army provosts. No explanations were given for the arrests. More than 60 Indonesian seamen on the Dutch ship Merak, at Port Melbourne, stopped work yesterday in sympathy with the Indonesian republocal movement. One Dutch steamer, which had been loaded by Dutch military personnel, left Brisbane yesterday for the East Indies. The police in Melbourne to-dav arrested 61 Indonesian seamen and 14 Australian seamen off ships held up through strikes. The Australians off the Kooyong were arrested for refusing to take the ship to sea. The Indonesians from the Dutch ship, Merak

had refused to work because of their sympathies with the Indonesian Republican movement. Two other ships, the Barwon and Nairana, are idle. Six seamen from the Barwon were charged in the Collingwood Court yesterday with refusing to take the ship to sea. The charges were withdrawn on condition that the men took the ship to sea. The men agreed, but the rest of the crew refused to take the ship to sea until the chief steward was removed. The 61 Indonesians arrested at a hostel were charged with desertion. Deadlock Reached The dispute in Sydney concerning the handling of Dutch ships has apparently reached a deadlock. This is indicated in a statement to-day by the Sydney branch president of the Waterside Workers' Federation, Mr T. Nelson, who said: "It must be obvious now that we are not going to work these ships, so the Government should take steps to utilise them for some useful purpose, particularly as the need for shipping is so urgent.” Tn Brisbane girls employed at the Trades Hall have threatened to strike unless the striking Indonesians now camped there leave the building. The Indonesians have been living in (he Trades Hall since they refused tc work on Dutch ships a week ago, and 'he girls said it was unpleasant having Indonesians camped in the same building. and they claimed that Indonesians were bringing women into the building.