Evening star., 1945-10-02
Indonesian Leaders
Refuse 10 Discuss
Freedom With Dutch
By the Associated Press.

BATAVIA, Oct. ] Delayed -
President Soc Karno of the "Repub-
lie Of Indonesia" and members of
his cabinet said in an interview to-
day that they would refuse to meet
with Charles o. van der Plas or any
other representative of the Dutch
government to discuss the independ-
ence Soc Karno contends his native
government already has achieved.
At the same time, Soc Karno de-
Tended his wartime series of anti
American and anti-British radio
talks as solely part of his pro-
gram to induce Japanese to give the
Indonesians greater freedom.
Soc Karno also disclosed that
Field Marshal Count Terauchi, jap
anese commander for the Southern
Pacific regions, had summoned him
and his vice president, Mohammed
Hatta, to Saigon, Indo-China, and
informed them August 9 that Japan
had granted the Indonesians COM
plete, immediate independence.
Heard of Jap Reverses.
"Terauchi said nothing of any
likelihood of japanese surrender >
explained Soc Karno, who speaks
English quite well. I'VE had heard
rumors of Japanese reverses, but we
knew little Of what actually was 60
ing on"
The Indonesian leaders said Van
der Plas, who announced at a press
conference yesterday that he had
invited all Indonesian leaders to
confer with him on Javanese prob
lens, had not yet invited them to dc
so-and if he did they would not &C
cept. Van der Plas is senior repre-
sentative Of the Netherlands gov
ernment In Java.
I'VE do not recognize any Dutch
return to power, and we will not dea.
with the Dutch" Soc Karno assert.
ed. Our republican (native) gov
eminent practically rules the coun-
try. Van der Plas is here in the In.
terests of Dutch colonization. How
can we discuss our problems with
him?"
Soc Karno said he would deal with
Allied representatives.
Meanwhile, British occupation
forces moving into the Neither.
lands Indies yesterday peacefully
expanded their hold on Batavia
where independence-lo loving natives
painted buildings with signs saying
I'VE don't ask freedom-We are en-.
titled to it."
With Indonesians protesting the
return of their Dutch rulers, ano
with $4,000 Japanese troops still or
the island, the situation is "poten-
TALLY explosive" and could lead tc
a horrible racial war;" said Van del
Plas.
Indonesian leaders said they woulo
fight rather than return to colo.
nial status.
Can Official Dutch government
broadcast described Soc Karno
as "full-blooded opportunist"
and a japanese puppet. The
broadcast protested that Allied
occupation forces were leaving
1iAH W RUE practlCally all LAe
rich island of Java.')
Japanese Making Trouble"
Van der Plas predicted it woulc
take several years to give the island.
freedonl-on an equal basis with tn,
homeland and still under the Dutcf
crown.
THE most essential problem il
the Pacific Is disarming the Japa
nese and getting them out of Java,
Van der Plas insisted. Already, h
explained, some japanese have de
serted their defeated army and ar
making trouble"
Indonesians, who had threatene,
violent resistance If armed Dutcl
forces landed, said the Indonesial
volunteer army consisted of $500
men. Ten thousand men in Mos
lem army constitute volunteer re
serves Another 5000 natives wer
conscripted by the japanese.