Dutch Return Quickly to

Dutch NG American Policy as Compared With Australian

OVER one hundred Netherlands Indies officials, Javanese native police, guides and interpreters went ashore in Dutch New Guinea with the American Army in April, 1944.

The group included Dutch and Indo nesian officials. Their administration is strictly civil in nature and operates under the Netherlands Government. The im mediate purpose is to reconstruct the Hollandia area, secure native labour to assist the American forces, and promote agricultural production. All the men have had training and experience in phases of administration.

Last summer the Commission of the Netherlands East Indies established a civil service school to train such officials in Melbourne, where they underwent an intensive six months’ training course in practical problems of administration.

Jungle trip experience was taught by a former Timor guerrilla fighter. Language instruction in Malay as well as knowledge of the religion, customs and history of the area were emphasised.

Experience in administration was secured in Southern Dutch New Guinea which, while unoccupied, has faced prob lems of reconstruction because of repeated bombardments. Last summer Dutch officials went to Merauke, seat of the Government, to organise the handling of military and civilian goods. A programme of civilian conscription was instituted, and reconstruction of bombed towns be gun.

Men who received this practical train ing in Merauke were with the Allied forces in Hollandia. Their authority will eventually extend to all recaptured terri tory in Netherlands Indies. A Netherlands agency to supervise and control exports from the islands for a limited time has already been established.

The prompt turning over of liberated territory to the former metropolitan powers illustrates clearly Allied policy; that of restoring the status quo ante for colonial areas—at least until final victory is achieved, —Far Eastern Survey.

EDITORIAL NOTE: The last paragraph

is true, as it relates to United States forces. But it is not true of Australia— as witness Papua.