Evening star., 1941-04-29
Last of a Sertes.J
By A. T. STEELE,
Foreign Correspondent of The Star ant
Chicago Daily News.

Chicago Daily News.
BATAVIA. Java CBy Clipper If
! the march of the aggressors goes on
the day may come when the United
States will have to make up its mind
whether Netherlands Indies and the
American investment they contain
are worth fighting for.
No man in these Dutch Islands
perhaps no man in Washington
can say for sure whether the United
States would intervene in case of a
Japanese invasion of the Indies
On the record are only the Ameri-
can Governments firm advocacy of
the status quo and its concern over
continued free access to vital raw
materials in this region.
Doubtless, the United States Gov
ernment and the authorities here
are maintaining close and cordial
liaison. But there is no reason to
believe that the Dutch have been
given any assurances, tacit or other
wise, which . would lead them to
count definitely on American mill
tary assistance in an emergency
All talk of secret agreements can
probably be ignored as groundleSs.
Resistance Stimulated.
This much, however, is sure. The
presence of the American feet in
Hawaii has been the principal fac
tor in curbing japanese inroads
here. 1t has stimulated Dutch re-
sistance and strengthened Dutch
bargaining power. 1t has made the
japanese careful and hesisant-
fear of precipitating a premature
showdown with the Nation they most
fear. Were it not for that feet in
Hawaii and the stiff American atti-
tude, there is plenty of reason to
believe that the Dutch in the Indies
would today be wearing the same
shackles as the French in Indo-
China.
Is the American financial and
political stake in the Indies worth
defending? That depends on the
viewpoint, but the issues are clear
Large or small-as it may look to
the individual-the American eco
nomic position in the Indies will
certainly be lost or ruined if the
japanese take the islands. The les
sons of Korea, Manchukuo and
China demonstrate plainly that no
country is big enough to hold both
the japanese Army and American
business.
The political issues are larger
They involve the question Of the
security of the British Empire, with
whose destiny the fate of the
Netherlands Indies is linked. 1t is
unlikely that the British, in Singa-
pore, could stand idly by If the In
dies were attacked. With the
Indies gone, Australia would be
nearly isolated and Singapore neu-
tralized. BY the same token. blow
at Singapore would be blow at the
Indies: it would remove their nearest
and strongest potential source OF
support.
Paradoxes Surround Indies.
The Philippines, too, would be
surrounded and irdefensible if the
Indies were invaded Thus the
American decision-if it ever has tc
be made-may depend not only on
economic considerations but or
whether the American people have
determined definitely to preserve the
security of the Philippines and the
existence of the British Empire.
The international position OF the
Netherlands Indies is full OF para
doxes When Holland was invaded
the Japanese government immedl-
ately dispatched its consul genera
to the Dutch authorities to demand
certain assurances. The assurances
willingly given, were that the status
quo of the Indies would be main
tanned despite European happenings
and that this country would con-
tinue to furnish Japan with certain
urgently required products.
Japan's invasion of French 1ndo'
China has long since made mock
cry of the status quo in the Fal
East which she so strongly cham
pioned only a few short months ago
Yet the Dutch have hesitated to g
back on their word, for fear o1
offending the Japanese. The con-
sequence is that while the Dutch
are at war with Germany and alliec
with England in Europe, they art
still neutral" in the Far East. Thi'
neutrality" has prevented the
Dutch Indies from making any join
declaration of cooperation and al.
lance with the British out here
though such has often been ad'
vocated.
This kind of an arrangement has
| advantages as well as bad points
For one thing, it means that either
side can pick just the right tint
for coming to the assistance of the
other in an emergency. It's disad.
u a