Indonesia At

A Crisis

Collapse Could Threaten S. Pacific

rfTHE Indonesian Government re i signed on June 2. A stop-gai set-up is carrying on, planning a general election. But the wholt Territory is in a state of political and economic confusion, close tc chaos and complete collapse.

This has been inevitable since the United States and British Govern ments, in 1945-46, failed to support the war-exhausted Dutch, anc allowed the Netherlands East Indies to fall into the hands of gangs oi Jap-trained political adventurers who set up the pathetic “Republic of Indonesia.”

The United Nations, with the blessing of the Australian Socialist Government, used its influence tc create a Dutch-Indonesian Union the Indonesia part of which was to be a Federation of all the little semi-independent States in the archipelagoes. But, within twe years, the unscrupulous Javanese politicians had destroyed all the other little Governments, so tha 1 Java now is supreme, and there now is no Federation, and no Unioi with the Dutch.

There has been a succession o: so-called Governments. The last led by Wilopo, was mostly a com bination of the PNI (Parta Nasional Indonesia), which is nationalist, and Masjumi, which ii Moslem, and both are Leftist; bu there is an indescribable welter o other political parties, and non* conforms to the rules, as understoo* by Westerners. The Territory a. present is influenced by the follow ing conditions:— Political organisations are divide* between moderates (some slightl: pro-Dutch) and extreme Leftists. ’

The army of about 200,000 is splii between moderates, who have sorm. semblance of order, and dissidem units, who are tending towards % guerilla organisation.

Trade and industry are in ap( parently hopeless confusion.

The 3i million Chinese there an' now strongly influenced by then connections in Communist China Communist penetration of tin country is steadily increasing.

To appreciate the vicious inj fluences at work, and understand something of a most confusing becko-round, persons interesteo should read the new book Challeng\ to Terror, written by Tur/ Westerling, who led a revolt in Javi soon after the war, and nearly overthrew the “government.” It ii on sale in Australia, at 18/9. It ii a lively and readable story or adventure, and it gives the full

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history of Indonesia since the be trayal of the Dutch by their Anglo- American allies.

For people of the South Pacific, Indonesia is not just another Asiatic country in turmoil, and surrender ing to Communism. Indonesia is lined up with New Guinea as part of our most vital barrier against overcrowded Asia. If Indonesia collapses—and collapse is inevitable, unless some strong force intervenes —it could spell peril for the South Pacific.

Indonesia is a striking example of the post-war folly of encourag ing nationalism among races who are incapable of self-government without a period of preparation— and whose blunderings are a menace to their neighbours.