DUTCH ACTION MAY HAVE OPPOSITE EFFECT

Chronicle (Levin), 23 July 1947, Page 5

DUTCH ACTION MAY HAVE OPPOSITE EFFECT

° Received Tuesday, 7 p.m. LONDON, July 22. Emphasising that the Dutch Govern ment has hitherto manifested eommend able determination to avoid a renewai of hostilities, the Times, in an editorial, says it now apparentlv holfb that the only chance of a satisfaetory settlement iies in convincing th t'anaties in Jogjakarta that the In donesian Republie must carry out honestly undertakings freelv accepted Certainly the Republie 's recent con duct augurs little disposition to meet the Dutch views haifway but it hac yet to be seen, the Times points out vvhether the eniplovment of force, even if it is justjfied by the grave provoca tion so long patiently susta'ined, will, achieve tlie results desired by thc Dutch Government. It may, indeed have the opposite effect of strengthen ing those sections of Indonesian opinion which oppose any aceommoda tion with the Dutch. The Times adds that all that can bt said at present is that an earlv resump tion of peaceful negotiations is in the best interests of botb sides. If Britisi. mediation can facilitate such a resump tion it will be promptly forthcomiiw but the stilf and unsympathetic tone oi the Foreign Office statement is scarcelv calculated to eommend the good otKces of Britain either to Dutch or In donesian opinion.