Noise And Bluster From Indonesia

Political Diversion Sought by Screams at the Dutch

INDONESIAN “belligerence” and

“demands” in respect of Dutch New Guinea have occupied the front pages of most newspapers for a month —first, because the Indonesians ap pealed to the United Nations; and, second, because the Djakarta poli ticians are trying to divert the atten tion of the populace from their col

lapsing politico-economic structure, by

getting the mobs to howl for the “an nexation of New Guinea.”

All this has nothing new for PIM readers. During the past two years, we have reported regularly on— • The steady disintegration of the administrative and economic struc ture built in the East Indies by the Dutch in the 350 years before they were forced out by the United Nations. • The absurd claims of the Indo nesian “government” to Western New Guinea, which is in no way re lated to Indonesia. • The creeping advance of the Communists in Indonesia where, within three years, the numbers of avowed Reds have grown from 50,000 to 500,000; and the growing power of the Reds within the “govern ment” itself. (The Soekarno admin istration now is kept in office only by Red votes.) • The rapid integration of Dutch and Australian defences in New Guinea, where the two nations now openly are co-operating in the con struction of airfields and the main tenance of air and naval forces.

It is most unlikely that the Indo nesian forces —which are little more than a rabble —will deliberately at tack the Dutch in New Guinea in an organised war, thus involving Australian forces; but both Dutch and Australian statesmen are con cerned about conditions in Indo nesia because the Asian Communists may presently try to advance through that confused country to wards New Guinea, Australia and the South Pacific Islands.

The United Nations, as a whole, has not seriously considered Indo nesia’s claim to Dutch New Guinea; but opportunity was taken in November by a number of the babb ling little delegations there to raise their usual clamour against Dutch and British “colonialism”; which in turn gave irresponsible newspapers (which now are in the majority) a chance to publish misleading and alarmist headings.

The now desperate Indonesian “government” may at any time try to create a diversion by encouraging some filibustering expedition to at tack the Dutch in New Guinea, and Australian New Guinea thereupon

would experience some “liveliness.”

But that would call for little more than police action.

The real danger lies further north, in Southeast Asia, where the Mongolian Reds are now settling solidly into their latest acquisition, Northern Vietnam, or Tonking.