DUTCH NEW GUINEA.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15895, 21 January 1924, Page 5

DUTCH NEW GUINEA.

DEVELOPMENT SCHEME. United'Press Association. SYDNEY, January 19. Dutch East Indian flies show that opinion there is considerably disturbed over the proposal recently discussed at the Governor-General's palace for the formation of a chartered company, somewhat on the lines of the British North Borneo Company, to develop intensively Dutch New Guinea. What was the cause of the sudden interest by the authorities in this matter is not known, but it is regarded as significant that one of the first moves was to issue an invitation to German settlers from the Bismarck Archipelago and ex-German New Guinea to settle in Dutch territory. A number did, but finding the conditions unconduoive to success the majority left. Other people also were investigating the potentialities of the territory; In June last a Japanese Commission, backed by the Government and the Overseas Trade Development Association, visited the Malay Archipelago, 'supposedly with an eye on Dutch territory. The new scheme is regarded as specially interesting in view of the fact that the Duke of Mecklcnburg-Scher-win, a relative of the Prince Consort of Holland, and a German princeling, participated in the discussion on the subject. The Duke recently travelled extensively in tiie territories, and he is understood to have declared that he believed the necessary capital to establish a New Guinea chartered company'was obtainable in Europe. The press, however, opposed any plan which was not entirely Dutch, both as regards capital and personnel, or has any leaning towards co-operation with Germans or Germany. The developments are being watched with interest in Australia, because, though the border between the Dutch and mandated New Guinea runs through wild, unknown territory, any change in the western portion of the island must have an effect upon the eastern an'd more civilised districts.