Dutch Won’t Discuss

W. New Guinea With Indonesians

AS presented in the newspapers, the reports of the Netherlands- Indonesia conference (com menced at The Hague in December and continued in Geneva in January) suggest that the argument over Western New Guinea bulks largely in the discussions, and that the conference is more or less dead locked.

A formal Netherlands communi cation (late January) says that the conference still is proceeding in Geneva, and it is mainly concerned with the clarification of economic relations between Holland and In donesia. Since the Indonesians started to drive the Dutch and Dutch interests out of Indonesia, scores of matters have arisen which require discussion and adjustment.

Some such matters affect Dutch New Guinea; but (says The Nether lands) with respect to sovereignty of New Guinea, each party main tains its own position.

In other words, Indonesia still claims Western New Guinea; but The Netherlands will not even dis cuss Indonesia’s claim. Indonesia’s next move, on this, will be another appeal to the United Nations. (Her last appeal to UNO was turned down).

The Indonesian “caretaker gov ernment,” mainly Moslem in char acter, has been trying to deal with the confused politico-economic situation that has developed in In donesia, between the general elec tions held there last October, and April, 1956, when it is expected that the result of the elections will be known. The voting system is very complex, and the arrangement and

counting of the many millions votes (there are 80 million people i Indonesia) is a task extending ow months.

H Mr. George Hill, ex-Director Shipping, Rabaul, has fully 11 covered from his recent serious ii ness, and is shortly returning Volupai, one of Mr. Jack Thurston New Britain plantations.