Could Indonesia
p. 23 · Read in the full issue
Join The Spc?
By Stuart Inder
Indonesia's determined attacks in and on Netherlands New Guinea could bring about far-reaching changes in the South Seas, through the South Pacific Commission.
SHOULD Indonesia succeed in its efforts to take over sovereignty from the Dutch, the participating Governments of the SPC may have to let her participate in the work of the Commission. Indonesia would merely have to state that West New Guinea was a dependant territory and it would be difficult for her membership to be refused in place of the Netherlands.
There is no reason to suppose that Indonesia would not be anxious to become a participating member of the SPC and in fact there is some evi dence that a number of the partici pating Governments are worried at the possibility of Indonesia a country which has strong connections with Russia, and which possibly might even go Red itself entering the South Seas through this method.
There are at present six partici pating Governments in the work of the Commission. These are, with the proportion of money which they con tribute in brackets: Australia (30 per cent.), Britain (15), France (12J), New Zealand (15), USA (12J), Netherlands (15).
Changes in the SPC structure will probably have to follow soon, now that Western Samoa has become inde pendent and could probably be ad mitted as a member nation. America has for some time been wanting to take a larger part in the work, and President Kennedy appears to see a growing Red threat to the South Seas which requires American assist ance although in what manner he would like to see this given, nobody on this side of the Pacific apparently knows.
Possible changes in the Commission will be discussed at a review con ference, no date for which has yet been set. It is unlikely now to be held before the end of this year, as some member Governments are anxious to see how the perplexing Indonesia problem works itself out.
Some of the other proposals to be put before the conference have al ready been formulated and tentatively circulated.