Over Dutch Guinec

Indonesia Blows Harder Over Dutch Guinec

The West New Guinea question, as far as the United Nations is concerned, is again back where it started about 12 years ago.

ON November 28, Holland with drew its resolution which pro vided for the administration of West New Guinea under UN direction, with Holland still supplying large grants of money.

The withdrawal followed the rejection by 53 votes to 41 of a compromise plan, introduced by 13 African States, which sought talks between Holland and Indonesia while a five-member commission in vestigated conditions in West New Guinea. This compromise plan was supported by the UK, USA, Aus tralia, New Zealand and Canada.

Indonesia, the Soviet bloc, Malaya and the United Arab Republic were amongst those who voted against it.

When this plan failed to get the necessary two-thirds majority in the General Assembly, the Dutch con cluded that their original plan would meet a similar fate and withdrew it.

Earlier, the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Dr. Subandrio, declared that if the UN endorsed the Dutch plan, it would mean war between Holland and Indonesia. In Indo nesia’s opinion West New Guinea was an integral part of Indonesia and the point at issue was not indepen dence for it, or whether West New Guinea should be handed to Indo nesia. It was simply a matter of when Holland could be induced to hand over to Indonesia.

Australia also reaffirmed its position through Mr. James Plimsoll, its delegate at UN; and through Prime Minister Menzies who is also Minister for External Affairs.

Australia is committed to self determination for the native people in its part of New Guinea and there fore it supported the Dutch desire to do the same thing in their half.

At the same time, if the Dutch and Indonesians arrived at some other solution by negotiation, Australia would not oppose it. Nor would it oppose it if, by a genuine act of self determination of the people of West New Guinea they decided to join Indonesia.

Meanwhile, members of the New Guinea Council, sitting at an extra ordinary session at Hollandia, weighed in with their opinion—they want a “free” West New Guinea.

Two native members of the Council.

M. W. Kaisiepo and N. J. Join followed up with a statement over ■ local radio. The natives have national feeling, said Mr. Joiu They weren’t pro-Netherlands or £ Indonesia. They were pro-Pap (Nevertheless, not all opinions in Council are unanimous, and tH could be a split.) Back at the United Nations, H ing disposed of West New Gui again for the moment, the Assem went on to discuss colonialism! general, and to approve oyerwh© ingly an Afro-Asian resolution sett up a 17 nation committee to rm recommendations for implemenf the declaration, made by the sembly last year, for independence all colonial peoples.

The committee members will! nominated by Mr. Mongi Slim; t will be authorised to meet outsider United Nations when and quired for the effective discharge; their functions.

One way and another it becoc increasingly evident that Austi and Papua-New Guinea are in an interesting time in the immeo future now that the Afro-Asian u is in full cry after colonialism! all its forms.

In Full Cry In the Trusteeship Council in i November the delegate for gave some idea of what sort! interference could be expected, delegate, Mr. C. S. Peiris, first cs for the end of racial discriminas in non-self governing territories independence as soon as posse and followed it up with an ati on Australia over New Guij Amongst other things he said Ceylon was not satisfied with the ; that there were only six elea native members in the P-NG tive Council —native members shr have a majority in the Councill said.

These remarks come stram from a man whose country has shd no inclination to end racial crimination against its own TJ minority and where political mudol in the last few years has resi(< in one Prime Minister being assass ted and an almost constant statf, near-revolution.