Governor's Order To Troops In Indonesia

Chronicle (Levin), 4 August 1947, Page 5

Governor's Order To Troops In Indonesia

(N.Z.P.A.-

—Reuter,

Copyright)

Received Monday, 10.30 a.m. Batavia, Aug. 3. The Lieutenant-Governor of the Netheriands East Indies, Dr. van Mook, has given the order to terminate Dutch aetion in Indonesia at mid* night tomorrow night, This was announced by him in a broadcast from Batavia tonight. It foilows the "cease fire immediately" order given to both Dutch and Indonesians by the Security Council on Friday night. Tiie Duten authorities today releajsed seven leading Indonesian politicians whom they arresied in Batavia on July 20 an hour before the Dutch opened their campaign in Java. A cable from the Security Council, catnng on the Republiean Premier, M. Sjari Fuddin, to cease lire, was handed to the VicePremier, M. Gani, in Batavia tonight by the Dutch a few hours aiter his release from custody. Earlier today a message broadcast by the Kepublican Commander, General Sudirman, urged /the indonesian soidiers to use their own jnitiative in attacking the Dutch. "It is better that this cuuntry become a sea of fire rather than oe dominated again," said General Sudirman. Dr. van Mook made it clear that although the Netheriands Government was cqmpiying witn the security Councii's oraer to cease fire, it oid not hold that the decision arnved at by the. council was legal, and stili ciaimed that the matter was internal and, therefore, qutside the jurisdicoion of the council. The Netheriands Government, he said, wanted to give another opportunity to the Republicans to reiinquisn their attitude of aggression and provocation, ana come to a real execution of the Lingadjati Agreement. Dr. von Mook also made it clear that the Dutch would take every means at their disposal to protect persuns and property irom political reialiation. The cessation of hostilities should include the cessation of demontions and of acts of vi«lence against members and groups of the population °in Republiean territory, and also hostne propaganda which had recentiy incited cven mass murder. It would depend on the decision within Republiean territory whether hostilities would cease on the other side and whether a new possibility for co-operation would be created. The Republiean Vice-President, M. Gani, said he doubted whether the Republiean Government would have tnne to order the Republiean forees to take similar action by midnight tomorrow, as there were diiheuities of communication with some area commanders. He complained that the councii's order had been delayed in Batavia, where it had arrived 24 hours before action was taken by the Dutch.