The Cordova daily times., 1917-02-22
EAST INDIES l|S PR0F|T|NG BY
 THE WAR
(By Associated Pressl

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Feb 22 While the economic life of the Dutch
 East Indies has been little impeded
 by the European war during the past twelve months, and big profits have been booked by the plantation indus try, Hollands colonial sky has been little clouded by unrest and disturb ances in many parts of her Far East. ern possessions. Apart from the re- bellion in two important provinces of Sumatra, more or less serious disor- ders have taken place in Borneo, Ce. lebes, Timor, Flores and other islands, and are still sporadically occurring. Troops have everywhere succeeded in restoring order, and save in tEe case of the Sumatran rebellion, with little trouble, but not before the armed po- lice in charge of these "outer posses sions' had suffered losses On the other hand, Acheen, the scene of one of Hollands longest and most stub born colonial wars, remained quiet, although occasionally assassinations of officials testify to the continued existence of some amount of ferment. In the main island of Java itself To- cal unrest has been manifest here and there owing to the war and pan-Is- Jamie agitation. The most remarkable political consequences of the world war for the Netherlands East Indies, however, is the anxiety shown both in native and European circles on the subject of Japanese ambitions, as ex- pressed by some writers. The Japan csc government itself has given no reason whatever for any such suspi- cions, its efforts being rather direct led to extending commercial relations Rfth the country. To this end party of Japanese toured the archipelago, where they were cordially received by the authorities at various centers.
 AS regards economic conditions, anxiety is entertained regarding the growing scarcity of cargo space avail able, between the colony and the mo- ther country, and a petition is being sent to parliament, pointing out what prejudicial results might flow from a further decrease of shipping for the numerous plantation enterprises with their tropical products. Partly owing to this cause. there has been a prac- tical cessation of the import of all kinds of articles which Dutch India formerly obtained from Europe; as against which phenomenon, trade and direct traffic with America has under gone considerable extension, al though Japanese commerce and indus try appear to be profiting even more from the absence of the usual Euro pean competition. Meanwhile vari- ous harbor improvements have been, or are being, executed at such ports as Tandjong Prick (the port of the capital, Batavia), Macassar and Soura- baya, with view to adequately meet ing future shipping needs. While tea and sugar plantations are enjoying considerable prosperity, the big native copra planting industry is depressed by low prices.
 Progress has been made towards a solution of the Chinese question. The numerous Chinese population are now at liberty to move about Java with out special passes, and to settle out side the special quarters previously assigned to them. The antiquated sys- tenn of appointing Chinese Officers" to exercise certain administrative powers among their compatriots has also been done away with. A step in the direction of decentralization of administration was the appointment of mayors for the three principal cit ies of Java, which should help to ren- der the establishment of municipal institutions a success. The question of the necessity of completely reform
 
 fense forces has been much to the fore, and conscription schemes are pending; evidence of the interest taken by the population themselves in the question is to be found in de- putation of half a dozen natives now on its way to Holland to lay it's views on the question before the queen and her ministers and the nation.
 Much interest was taken in the visit paid to Java by the governor of the Philippine islands, which visit is ex- pected to lead to closer relations with Hollands American neighbors in the Far East. A number of other Philip pine officials subsequently paid visit to various parts of the colony.
 Among Hollands possessions in South America and the West Indies, the colony of Dutch Guyana is still passing through very difficult times Trade suffered from the unprofitable prices ruling for some of it's principal commercial products, while the Euro pean inhabitants felt the prejudicial effects of scarcer imports and the ris ing cost of living. The new governor Gerard Johan Staal, who has just talk en up office. proposes to concentrate hia attentiOn on Guana's agricultural