Commentary

Dictators Are Always

Dictators

THOSE who remember the last visit of the United States Attorney- General, Mr. Robert Kennedy, to Indonesia could well be having mis givings about his recent peregrina tions in South East Asia.

On his first visit to Indonesia, just at a time when Dr. Soekarno was stepping up his demands against the Dutch, he found that Indonesia “had a case” in West New Guinea. The rest is now history.

According to all reports, Mr.

Kennedy is now inclined to think that Indonesia has another case for its “confrontation” of Malaysia. He is said, on his second visit with Dr. Soekarno (in mutually tolerant Japan), to have “fallen under the charm” of the Indonesian dictator

and to be agreeably surprised to fin< him “so reasonable”.

If there is any truth in this it ma; be excused on the score that botl Mr. Kennedy and the United State are young in diplomacy and not mud used to dictators. They seeming! have still yet to learn that the Di Soekarnos of the world will pay li] service to just about anything so lon as they ultimately get what the want.

What, after all is there to hav a peace conference about? Tfi trouble is of Indonesia’s making an< the only point at issue is whethe Indonesia is to go on opposing th continued existence of Malaysia, o not. It is unlikely that Di Soekarno will back down at thi stage without handsome concession from the other side, and more con cessions to Dr. Soekarno now wil simply mean more trouble fo someone else, at some future date.