How Indonesia Links Us With

Indo-China and Geneva

THE nations are still trying to find a formula to confirm the Korea truce, and bring a truce in Indo- China. While they talk at Geneva, the Communists in Indo-China, actively supported and supplied by Red China, are overwhelming , the French defence.

The Reds’ plan—to gradually arouse Asia against the Westerners, and fh u s weaken the Western bloc —is perfectly plain to the Westerners; but the Western Powers cannot agree on how to meet it.

So no one can guess what will happen next.

But whether or not we halt the Reds in Indo-China, the Red thrust against Siam, Burma, and Malaya surely will come; and then we of the South Pacific will be in it, be cause Indonesia now is rotten ripe to be taken over by Asiatic Com munism, and Indonesia is Asia’s corridor to the South Pacific.

Indo-China is merely the focal point of the irreconcilable struggle that we call the Cold War. United States says: “We’ve got to fight, sooner or later. Let’s do it now, and get it over.” Britain says: “Wait a bit longer—those enslaved nations must sooner or later rise against the Moscow gang.” Moscow is utterly ruthless, and there is not a sign of compromise. Smaller countries can. only await,the issue,

helplessly.

FOR us, here in the South Pacific, Indonesia is a key point, and a place of growing menace. It is our special angle on Indo-China.

Month by month, the situation there, as we see it, has deteriorated. As the 75-millions “republic” drifts closer to political, social and economic collapse, its so-called Nationalist Government comes more under Communist influence.

Ho Chi-Minh, Red leader in Indo- China, told Indonesian Premier Sastromidjojo in May that he sup ports Indonesia’s claim to Western New Guinea. Indonesia has proposed to enter a non-aggression pact with Red China, Burma and India. The powerful Masjumi (moderate Moslem party), hating Communism, has been trying to steer Indonesia away from the growmgly active Reds in Indonesia who 'now dominate the main trade union organisation.

Fearing and resisting the Masjumi, the Indonesian Government moves week by week ever closer to the Reds —and the latter, directly and through their fellow-travellers, now hold many key posts.

There are rebellions in North Sumatra and West Java. The Southern Molucca people—q ui t e close to New Guinea —have broken away, declared themselves in dependent of Indonesia and .appealed to us for help. The Dutch Ambassador in Australia has been

visiting Papua and New Guinea; and a new trade relationship (see article elsewhere) has been estab lished between Australia and Dutch New Guinea. Netherlands has said officially that “attacks upon Western New Guinea are not expected for the time being”; but defence measures have been under consid eration, and the defence of Nether lands New Guinea has been recog nised as the task of the Dutch Navy and Navy Air Force.

These events and conditions in Indonesia and Western New Guinea may appear disconnected, at first glance. But they are not, when seen in the light of to-day’s events in Geneva and Indo-China.