Indonesia

Increasing Signs of Confusion and Revolt

ALL reports from Indonesia, only four months after the Dutch were forced, by the United Nations, to surrender sovereignty over the Nether lands Indies to “the Republic of the United States of Indonesia,” agree that there is a rapid deterioration in con ditions there. In the past month, the following things have occurred.

On March 19, the Government of In donesia announced that all money in cir culation, as well as in the banks through out the country, lost its nominal value at mid-day, and decreased in value 50 per cent. Only currency notes of two guilders 50 cents and less, as well as coins of 2£ and 1 cent retain their full face value.

The left-hand half of each note becomes legal tender up to 50 per cent, of its value. The right-hand half serves as an application voucher for obtaining bonds in the 3 per cent. Government loan and also loses half its face value.

This, of course, threw all financial and commercial organisation into confusion.

It has been announced that of the 15 States of the Netherlands Indies, which joined with the “republic of Indonesia” (really, Java) to form the Federal “United States of Indonesia.” only two or three have retained their indepen dence of Java. All the others have been absorbed by the Java State, the Gov ernment of which apparently plans to dominate the entire Federation (or United States).

ON April 5, the State of East Indonesia which has its headquarters at Macassar, in the Celebes, revolted against the Federal (or Java) authority, captured the Federal garrison, and defied the Federal authority to send ashore two shiploads of troops which were waiting off the port.

On April 14, the Indonesian authori ties in Java induced Captain Azis, leader of the Macassar revolutionaries, to fly to Jakarta, on promise of safe conduct, to discuss the situation. He was promptly seized and gaoled. On April 17, East Indonesia was still defying the “Repub lic,” and there was talk of war.

There was reported to be an Islamic revolt in West Java and disaffection in West Borneo and Sumatra.

On April 2. Ministers of the Netherlands-Indonesian Union, meeting at Jakarta, set up a commission of three Indonesians to inouire into the future of Dutch New Guinea. They are to report to both Governments before July 1, and give their findings to the United Nations Commission on Indonesia—which mis chief-making body is still busy in the East Indies.

On March 25, President Soekarno was reported to have said: “Tell Australia we do not want Eastern New Guinea, but we must have Western New Guinea.” On March 29, Prime Minister Menzies said that “the Australian Government has the liveliest interest in all parts of New Guinea.”

AUSTRALIAN correspondent Osmar White—about the only well-in formed writer on Indonesia —says that Indonesian efforts are being directed to getting control of the KNIL (Dutch trained Indonesian soldiery) who hate the Indonesian Republican set-up, and who are awaiting demobilisation, but who refuse to demobilise unless they can take their arms with them.

White says that, as the trained Dutch administrative personnel move out, and untrained, greedy and unscrupulous In donesians take over, the whole vast

region of 70,000,000 people is likely to fall into chaos. Already, there is serious threat of famine.

An Indonesian named Yamin, who fre quently speaks for the Government, has ureed the Philippines Government to make common cause with the Indone sians in freeing the whole of Borneo from “white Imperialism”.

Mr. Bourke, a Labour member of the Australian Parliament, has suggested that Australia should buy Dutch New Guinea from the Dutch, just as United States bought Louisiana from the French and Alaska from the Russians.