Evening star., 1940-07-02
NationaIists Oppose
Substitute Rule in
Dutch East Indies
Indonesiun Movement
Seeks Increase in
Native Rights
BY FRANK SMOTHERs.

BATAVIA. Netherlands East In
dies-Malays tell of curious legend
current among them. It is said to
date back more than 300 years to
the sayings of Javanese prince.
There is the legend as detailed
today:
The Javanese prince, with the
proud name of Djojo Dojo, prophe-
sled that. white domination was
coming over the brown people in
his part of the world. (The Dutch
East Indies Company began estab-
fishing Netherlands rule in Java
late in the 18th century, He
prophesied that white rule would
last until lights shone without flame
and carriages moved without be-
ing drawn. Then, according to
Djojo Dojo, the brown people
would get their freedom-but not
before a brief period of domination
by another Asiatic people.
Thus far the Indonesian national
ist movement does not ask inde-
pendence. Moha mad Hoesni
Thamrin, its chief leader, states
that the movement is loyal to the
Dutch flag but wants a growth of
native rights. It desires no Japa-
nese Cor Germany substitute for
Dutch rule. Thus if Dojo's predic-
ton comes true it will, at least as
far as the period of domination by
another Asiatic people is concerned,
be against nationalist wishes.
Known as Astute Politician.
Thamrin himself has the reputa-
ton of an astute politician. His
father was a Dutchman but did
not recognize him, and he sticks
to his mothers people, the Malays.
The sincerity of his desire to help
them is attested by his friends, and
he talks convincingly of reforms
he wants for them. But Thamrin
certainly is not a radical revolu-
tionary. He has acquired consider
able wealth BY am told-astute
investments in the Indies, and he
rides in one of the biggest cars In
Batavia.
The present reform program of
the nationalist movement-com-
posed of seven parties with nomi-
nal aggregate membership of about
half q million as compared with an
1ndonesian population of 5000, 900
In the Dutch East Indies, is mild.
Real power, at least a beginning
OF real power, is asked for the
volksraad. the purely advisory par
lament with 60 members, half of
them natives.
In Favor of Conscription.
Thamrin "a member OF the volks-
raadD tells me the nationalists, of
fering to cooperate to the fullest
with the Dutch in the defense of
the Indies, want conscription. He
asks a big Indonesian army.
Complaints are made against high
taxes on the peasants. and reform
is desired.
Despite censorship of news from
the Philippines, nationalist leaders
are well aquainted with the gen.
eral course of events there, and
look with envious eyes upon the
Filipinos. Thamrin has a picture
OF Manuel Quezon, whom he counts
his friend, in his Office.
But the outlook here in the In
dies is for no reform in the direc-
ton Of democracy during this crisis.
The Dutch know that the nation
alist movement is not strong. Not
even all the half million nominal
members are believed to be deep
ly conscious politically. The ma
tionalists, preferring the Dutch to
any substitute in sight, seem un-
likely to sabotage Dutch defense or
embarrass Dutch administration
during the crisis. They would like to
get reform in return for co-opera-
tion-but the Dutch see slight if
any Danger in refusing.
Fear Big Native Army.
While attesting the loyalty of the
ndonesians, representative Dutch
believe arming great native army
would be risky. Conversations with
Dutch leaders give the definite i'm
preston that no concessions of con-
sequence are to be made to the ma
tives at this stage.
One school of thought, repre-
sented by J. Verboom, president of
the influential and growing Father
land Club, which champions the
hrmeSt Of firm Dutch hands, holds
there have been too many conces-
sions as it is-"too much democ-
racy," as he puts it.
AS for military forces, although
all but about 1000 of the present
army Of perhaps 10000 in the N.
E. I. are natives, they are chosen
with care to prevent insidious con-
tagion from reaching them. In Java
where more than two-thirds of
the population of the Indies is con-
centrated-very few in the army
are Javanese. The big majority are
Ambonese, Menadonese, Timorese
all coming from the eastern Sec
ton of the archipelago, far from
Java, different racially from the
Javanese. The Javanese are Mo-
hammedans, whereas the Protestant
Church is strong in Ambon and
Menado.
tcopyrisht 1910. by Chicago Daily News.)
Officers Are Installed