Defined

Dutch N. Guinea

Australian Position Is Defined

THERE have been lively developments during the month in relation to Indonesia.

There were indications in the middle of May that revolts against the Indonesian Federal Authority were in progress in Macassar and Ambon, and that a good deal of fighting had taken place. There are no details.

On May 20, Dr. Soekarno, president of Indonesia announcing an agreement by political leaders to abolish State Govern ments, thus making the Indonesian Federal Government supreme—an ugly development in itself —said: “I call on my brother Indonesians. Let us march on. Western New Guinea must, can, and certainly will return to our fold.”

On May 22, Australia’s Minister for External Affairs (Mr. Spender) an nounced that the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr. J. D. L. Hood, had been asked to return to Australia immediately for consultation. Mr. Spender said that the vital interests of Australia in the whole of New Guinea would be protected.

On May 23, newspaper correspondents in Djakarta (Batavia) said that Indo nesian officials were “astonished” and “stunned” by Australia’s reaction to their demand that the Dutch should hand Western New Guinea over to them.

Soekarno made statements on the 23rd and 24th. He said Indonesian sovereignty in West New Guinea would not weaken Australia’s defence position. Indonesia

would not become Communist, and “would be a friend sitting next door in New Guinea, rather than a suspicious neighbour ... We are a new country, and we want all our efforts to go into the construction and development of our country including West New Guinea, on our lines.”

He said Indonesia had no aspirations towards Eastern (or Australian) New Guinea.

In a statement published on May 24 Soekarno claimed that Western New Guinea belonged historically and racially to Indonesia.

On June 7 it was announced that Pandit Nehru, Prime Minister of India had arrived in Indonesia and had been rapturously greeted by the Indonesians in Djakarta.

ON June 8, in a formal statement, the Australian Minister for External Affairs (Mr. Spender) said that if there was to be any change in the future status of Western New Guinea, Australia would be /vitally interested —both from the viewpoint of defence and the future of the native race in New Guinea.

Western New Guinea was a part of that screen of islands northward of Australia, the control of which was of the greatest strategic importance to Australia.

Dr. Evatt (Labour), expressing support of Mr. Spender’s statement, suggested that Western New Guinea might be brought under some form of UN Trustee ship, in which Australia, the Netherlands and Indonesia could be represented.

Mr. Alan Burrows, of Burns Philp, left Port Moresby in May on his way to Eng land. Mr, and Mrs. S. Ross are also on their way to England on leave.