DUTCH SHIPPING BAN

Chronicle (Levin), 26 May 1947, Page 5

DUTCH SHIPPING BAN

Received Bunduv, 1(1.50 p.m. BATA V I A, Muy 25. A joint letter saying tliat the Xether lands Indie.s and lndonesian Kepublican Governments would appreciate the u.jc of the Australian Govenuueiu 's "gom: offices" to secure the innnediate lifting of the Dutch Miipping hau was sea yesterday to the Australian ConsuJ General (Mr. B. C. Ballard). The lette; was signed by Dr. van Mook and Mr Bjahrir and has anached a three-elausc agreeinent regarding the distribution o Dutch goods which had bien held up in Australia since Seplember 1945. The letiei savs: ''Both Government call attention to the faet that such a jneasure would be in the inieresl of tlu whole of Indonesia as the goods which at present rau not be reinoved from Aus tralia as a result of the ban will lielp t meet the needs of tlie Republir on tln basis of an agreement to be coiirluded between the Netherland* Indies and th. Republiean Governments. ' ' The signing of the joint letter is th result of several weeks of patien negotiation initialed bv representalivcof the Australian Governnieut who re cently visited Indonesia as aftaehes to the Australian Consu'ate-Genenil. A Dutch eomiminique says that some 40/100 tons of goods valu"d at more than 40, (100,000 guilders are lying in Atistralian poits. The niain goods aiv textiles, but there are also such item as niedieines, lighters, niotor-boats. car.-. and agricultmal iuiplements. Dr. Akgapi, J'epiibiican Kcononiist All'airs Miuister, sa.id: "I hope tluwill be for the benelit of all the people j concerned and lead to the resuniption o. normal trade between our two coun tries. "