DUTCH NEW GUINEA

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 16, 19 January 1924, Page 7

DUTCH NEW GUINEA

PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT

GERMAN PRINCE TAKES PART

TALK OF CHARTERED COMPANY.

(c.vited fuss association.— oorrrjsit.l {Received 19th January, 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Dutch East Indian files show that opinion in the East Indies is considerably disturbed over the proposal, recently discussed at the Governor-Gen-eral's Palace, for the formation o£ a Chartered Company, somewhat on the lines of the/British. North Borneo Company, to develop intensively Dutch New Guinea. | \j What was the cause of the sudden j interest by the authorities in'this matter '. is not known, but it is regarded as, significant that one of the first moves was the- issue of an invitation to German j settlers from the. Bismarck Archipelago and ex-German New Guinea to settle in tie-Dutch territory. A number did so, but, finding that the conditions were not conducive to success, the majority left; Other people are also investigating the potentialities of the territory. In June last a Japanese commission, backed by the Government ■. and Overseas -Trade Development Association, visited > the Malay Archipelago,-supposedly with an eye to Dutch territory. The new-scheme^is regarded as specially interesting, in view of the fact thaf, the Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin, relative- of the > Prince-Consort of Holland, and a German. • princeling, participated in> the discussions on the subject. The Duke recently travelled extensively in the territories, and, it is understood, declared that he believed that the necessary capital to establish a "New Guinea CJiartered Company" -would be obtained in Europe. , > The press, however, are opposed to any plan, which is not entirely Dutch, both as. regards capital and personnel or has any leaning towards co-operation with Germans or Germany. j Developments are being watched with interest in Australia, because, though the border between Dutch and mandated New Guinea runs through a wild unknown territory, any change in the western portion' of the island must have ah effect upon the eastern and more .civilised districts.

A message of the 3rd December stated that the Duke of Mecklenburg, the former Governor of Togoiand, recently visited Dutch New Guinea. It is./rumoured that his visit was to negotiate for the v purchase of the Dutch possessions there on behalf of the German Government. It is stated that there are many Germans'located in the town and on islands adjacent to the Java \ coast. - . j i The area of Dutch New Guinea is about equal to the rest of the island under the mandate and Australia.