POINTS IN TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNT TO INDONESIAN REPUBLIC

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 November 1949, Page 5

POINTS IN TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNT TO INDONESIAN REPUBLIC

(N.Z.P.A. —Copyright.) THE HAGUE, Nov. 1 (Recd. 8.15 pm).—Documents presented to the final plenary session of the Indonesian round-table conference today consisted of the charter of transfer of sovereignty, the Netherlands-Indonesian Union Statute with special defence, financial, economic, cultural and foreign relations agreements and an agreement on the transition period. The transfer charter provides: (1) That the Netherlands unconditionally and irrevocably transfers complete sovereignty over Indonesia to the Republic of the United States of Indonesia and recognises the Republic as an independent and sovereign State and the Republic accepts the sovereignty, which will take place not later than December 30, 1949. (2) Concerning New Guinea, it has not yet been possible to reconcile the views of the parties. (3) It has been agreed to maintain the status quo, with the stipulation that within one year from the date of the transfer of the sovereignty the political status of New Guinea will be settled by negotiations between the United Republic and the Netherlands Union.

The Statute says the union is intended to bring about organised cooperation between the Netherlands and the United Republic on a voluntary basis of equal status with equal rights. Queen Juliana and her lawful successors will be head of the union embodying “the concept of voluntary and lasting co-operation between partners.” To implement the union Ministerial conferences will be held twice yearly. All decisions will be taken in agreement between the two partners but must be ratified by both Parliaments.

The report of the military committee makes arrangements for the withdrawal of purely Netherlaads forces from Indonesia as soon as possible and the withdrawal of Dutch naval forces within a year after the transfer of sovereignty. The two partners will consult each other in case of imminent attack on both partners or on one of them. The Dutch naval base of Sourabaya will become the naval base of Indonesia upon the transfer of sovereignty, although an officer of thp Dutch Navy will be in charge. The financial and economic agreement says that foreigners of all nations will have equal trade and industrial rights in Indonesia, but the United Republic promises to consider the special interests of Dutch nationals and corporate bodies and to make no discrimination against them except “for the protection of national interests.” Under this agreement Indonesia will take ove’? 4,300,00,000 guilders of the Dutch debt.