Boiling

Indonesian Pot Still Boiling Australia's Serious Trade Losses

THE situation in the Netherlands Indies seems to have deteriorated again. A special mission from the United Nations, led by an Australian and strongly sponsored by Australia, persuaded Dutch and Republicans to cease fighting at the end of 1947, and resume talking. But their talks led nowhere.

The Dutch were reasonable enough, and patient, and prepared to make con cessions up to a point; but they could get nowhere with the sly and undepend able Republicans, and negotiations have virtually broken down.

There is only one way to resolve this ridiculous situation—which, now, has ex tended over nearly three years. The Dutch, under UNO supervision, should make use of all the armed force necessary to restore order in and to police Central and Southwest Java —all the rest of their vast archipelago is under control, and is being rapidly restored to normal. Only the “Republican” section—organised by the Japs, and fed by the Communists in Southeast Asia —is preventing full re habilitation in this huge territory.

Australia’s Pink Government and Red trade unions have done a great deal to keep the “Republican” pot boiling; and Australia is the chief sufferer from the paralysis of Australian-Indonesian trade.

The Indies want virtually everything that Australia can supply.

Official quarters in Canberra have been informed that £60,000,000 worth of goods would be available for export from Indo nesian “Republican” ports immediately, if the Dutch blockade were lifted. The

goods, which total 700,000 tons. Include 300,000 tons of sugar, 100,000 tons of rubber, 100,000 tons of sago, 93,000 tons of copra, 9,000 tons of palm oil, 1,000 tons of indigo, 45,000 tons of coffee and 3,000 tons of tea.

Agreement, in principle, for at least a partial lifting of the blockade was reached in June, but seems to have not been ratified.