Fundamental Problems

Of Indonesia

An experienced member of the South Pacific Commission recently spent a few days in Indonesia.

Here are his impressions, sum marised in a private letter to the Editor of the PIM.

THE current administration in Indonesia seems to be walking a very difficult tight-rope, try ing to placate Communists on the one hand by taking them into the 'Cabinet, and yet to maintain an essentially Nationalist Government, neutral as between both the West and the East.

This, with all the severe economic and political strains they are under, would be a mighty tough assignment for experienced diplomats.

I think it is still a toss-up as to whether they are going to get an economic base built fast enough to sustain them. There is no question about their ability to supply them selves with food; but an economy must be more than a subsistence one.

They are all intensely eager to learn. Everyone seems to be teach ing everyone else. They have adopted English as the second official language; and, at the same time, they are establishing an Indonesian

language as the number-one official ?u ec l lum ’ They have had to agree on that, and then start learning it as well, since there is no overall Indo nesian language. Dutch has been the only general language in the past, and they have almost out

lawed that. ..The East Indies question hot ii? 110 • • ° ne has fe that the issue of West New Gt is raised at times in Indones; take the people’s mind off more pressing domestic probe