Australian Ministers Opposed to Dutch, Says Sydney Newspaper

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 July 1947, Page 5

Australian Ministers Opposed to Dutch, Says Sydney Newspaper

Recd. 8 p.m. Sydney, July 23. That Commonwealtii M list erial opinion is strongly anti-Duteh in its approach to the Indonesian situation is charged by the Canberra correspondent ol the "Sydney Sun,” who claims that, irrespective of whether public opinion in Australia is for or against the Dutch, the Commonwealth attitude towards the Dutch has been one of consistent hypocrisy.” “Ministers in Parliament or in public speeches have lavishly praised the Dutch for the part they played as allies of Australia in the war against Japan,” he writes, "but as soon as they have emerged from Parliament or sat down from speech-making they have left their listeners in no doubt as to their private, as opposed to tiieir public, opinion on the Indonesian question. For this reason there has always been a suggestion of half-heartedness about the Commonwealth's approach to the watersiders’ ban on Dutch shipping. Though the Government is expected to give an appearance, which it will attempt to make convincing, that genuine attempts are being made to solve the fresh crop of waterfront difficulties which have arisen for the Dutch, actually there will be little real warmth in its efforts. Senior Ministers are among those afflicted with the antiDutch virus, and their viewpoint has permeated through the Ministry down to<he rank and file Parliamentarians. Some of the comments made by responsible Ministers, if made in public, would reveal that the Commonwealth has one policy which it shows outwardly to the world, but another private policy which is against the Dutch."