DELEGATE’S OUTBURST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26632, 1 December 1947, Page 5

DELEGATE’S OUTBURST

ACCUSATIONS AGAINST DUTCH INCIDENT AT HAVANA TRADE CONFERENCE Rec. 8 p.m. HAVANA, Nov. 28. The Dutch were accused of aggression, exploitation and “ attempts to starve the Indonesian Republic into submission ” by the Indonesian VicePremier, Dr A. K. Gani, at the United Nations Trade Conference to-day. Dr Gani said the Dutch had deliberately ruined Indonesia's educational system. “ The Dutch Army is well equipped, but every home in Indonesia has the means to produce fire. If the Dutch persist in trying to occupy more territory, we shall be forced to continue scorched earth tactics, so that the invader may be denied the spoils of conquest,” he said. Mr Anton Speekenbrink (Netherlands) formally protested “ against the way Dr Gani has misused the invitation he received to this conference for political ends, and against the gross misrepresentation of facts.” The chairman ruled that remarks of a political nature were out of order, and at his request Dr Gani agreed to have his remarks deleted from the records. Dr Gani said that Indonesia, which was rich in natural resources, was convinced of the importance of encouraging foreign capital . investments along the lines proposed in the Geneva Charter. The Republic would co-operate to make the Charter successful. Indonesia would begin exporting raw materials immediately in growing quantities in return for imports of medicinal products, textiles, .transportation and communications equipment. and general industrial machinery.

Aly Bhigat (Egypt), obviously alluding in part to the British Empire preference system, said if the International Trade Organisation tolerated preferential agreements on trade among certain countries, the Arab States would feel free to make similar agreements. Mr Arthur Guiness. president of the International Chamber of Commerce, said the Charter objectives already seemed to have been lost sight of in the multiplicity of exceptions, and the opening speeches by many delegates showed that many nations seemed bent on more restrictions and more exceptions. “We shall never succeed that way,” he said.