‘Republic Of U.S. Of Indonesia’

New Status For East Indies—But Western New Guinea Temporarily Exempt

AFTER four years of struggle, rang ing from argument to bitter fighting, ending in ten weeks of “conference” at The Hague, the Netherlands—under United Nations pressure—has virtually surrendered to the Indonesians; and on November 2 the formation of “the Republic of the United States of Indonesia,” and a formal Union between the Nether lands and the Republic, were an nounced.

It is the culmination of a tragic post-war political development in the Malaya Archipelago; and it is of great import to Australia and all communities in the South Pacific, be cause it means that the vital land bridge between South-east Asia and Australia has been transferred to Asiatic control.

Nominally, the Netherlands retains a voice in the future control of Indonesia. In actual fact, the situa tion there (really created by the United Nations) will be dominated henceforth by the Indonesians.

THE Hague Conference, on November 2, entered into a whole series of Pacts and Agreements, of which the follow ing is a summary:—

Charter Of Transfer—This Con

sists of two Articles. The first says that the Netherlands, unconditionally and ir revocably, transfers complete sovereignty over Indonesia to the Republic of the United States of Indonesia, and recog

nises the Republic as an independent and sovereign State.

The second Article deals with New Guinea. It says that, as it has not been possible to reconcile the views of the

parties, it has been agreed to maintain the status quo, with the stipulation that, within one* year from the date of the transfer of sovereignty, the political status of New Guinea will be settled by negotia tions between the United Republic and the Netherlands.

The formal transfer is expected to take place on December 27.

STATUTE OF UNION—This consists of 28 Articles, designed to bring about a

formal Union between the Netherlands and the Republic of the United States of Indonesia, and the symbolic head of the Union is to be the crown (the ruling monarch of the Netherlands).

The Statute says that the Union is in tended to bring about organised co operation between the Netherlands and the United Republic on a voluntary basis of equal status with equal rights.

To implement the Union, Ministerial conferences will be held twice a year. All

decisions will be taken in agreement be tween the two partners, but must be ratified by both Parliaments.

Disputes will be referred to a Court of Arbitration which will consist of three members appointed by the Netherlands and three by the United Republic for a period of 10 years. If the court is equally divided on any dispute, it must ask the International Court of Justice to appoint a person of another nationality as an ad ditional member of the Union Court for the purposes and decision of that dispute.

Under the Union, each partner will appoint a High Commissioner for the other’s territory, with ambassadorial rank.

The expenses of the Union will be shared equally by the partners.

Finance And Economic Agree

MENT—Provides for Indonesia’s future policy, and recognises the Netherlands continued interests there.

Military Agreement—This Pro

vides that the Dutch Army will be with drawn from Indonesia as soon as possible, but will help to train and equip the new United Republic’s army and navy. The Dutch Navy is to withdraw within a year.

POLITICAL AGREEMENT—This covers foreign and diplomatic relations, includ ing reciprocal representation in some cases.

SOCIAL AGREEMENT—Among other things, this defines the rights of Dutch Civil Servants remaining in Indonesian service for a limited or fixed period.

CULTURAL ACCORD—This is in tended to ensure complete freedom of mind and thought; besides a liberal ex change of cultural facilities.

Draft Constitution—This Was

drawn up by the Indonesians, and ac cepted by the Dutch, and it guarantees democratic administration, self-deter mination, protection of minorities, and rights of citizenship in the new United Republic.

Linked with these eight main features are more than a score of minor agree ments and understandings on the way matters will be (Valt with after the administrative, political, and economic transfer.

(Continued on page 93)

WHAT to the South Pacific is a most important agreement is that reached in relation to Dutch New Guinea (the western half of the great island), which hitherto has been part of what has been called The Netherlands Indies.

It has been decided (see Charter of Transfer) that, for one year, it shall re main outside the new arrangement, and shall be treated simply as an independent Dutch colony. Within the year, its future status shall be decided.

Agreement in relation to Dutch New Guinea was difficult. It was reached only after both sides had reported failure, and when the United Nations Committee, which was closely associated with the Conference at The Hague, came along with a formula that was considered ac ceptable.

The Dutch claim that this island, which is neither ethnologically nor geographi cally a part of Indonesia, would be better off under continued Dutch rule. They

naintain that their financial and adminis trative resources are more likely to meet the island’s future considerable develop mental needs than are those of the Indonesians.

The Irianian intellectuals, whose leader is Jacob Ariks, agree with this view.

Indonesian representatives at The Hague, however, maintained that New Guinea, so far a part of the Netherlands East Indies, should be transferred to the future Republic of the United States of Indonesia, or to the State of East Indo nesia. They advanced the opinion that Holland could be allowed to play an im portant part in its future development, without assuming governmental respon sibility.

Readers, to better understand the issues involved, should look at the map pub lished herewith; and read the First Article in this issue—“ Dutch or Asiatics in Western New Guinea?”

(Continued on page 94)

The New Set-Up !n Indonesia

SOURABAYA— which has been Holland’s chief naval base in the East for many generations—becomes the naval base of Indonesia, but a Dutch naval officer will be in charge. Other naval establish ments will remain in charge of the Dutch, to be gradually transferred to In donesian control.

Trade and industry in the new Indo nesia will generally be free to all; but the Netherlands and Indonesia “will con sider a system of mutual preferential treatment of trade.”