Evening star., 1947-07-21
.Indonesiia Asks.
Aid Of j. n. as
Dutch Attack
President Soekurno
Makes Radio Appeal; !;
Airfields Blasted
BY the Assoeiated Press

BATAVIA, Java, July 21.-
President Soekarno said by radio
today the Dutch were attacking
his Indonesian Republic by land,
air and sea. He appealed to the
world to force the United Ma
tions Security Council to take up
the case.
A Dutch .communique said Dutch
warplanes had attacked Republican
airf1elds in Java and Sumatra be-
cause Indonesian fighter planes were
ready for action.
The Dutch, declaring they would
not attack either the civil population
or non-n1ilitary objectives, were at
tempting to immobilize harassing
anti-aircraft guns at the fields and
the Republican air force, believed
to number about 40 obsolescent jap
anese planes, many in poor repair.
The Republican radio, over
which President Soekarno appealed
said Dutch artillery had opened fire
south of Bandoeng, 100 miles south
east of Batavia. The report said two
Dutch planes using rockets attacked
Task, Malaga, in West Java, and
that other Dutch aircraft had
strafed Soerakarta -Sraden railway
train.
"Good Offices" Offered.
(The United States and Great
Britain made an offer of their
good offices" to try to effect a
settlement. Washington and
London officials followed the ex-
plosive situation closely. The
British Foreign Office expressed
"the keenest disappointment"
over the breakdown in negotia-
tions.
tThe Dutch government said it
was using its armed forces re-
luctantly to establish conditions
more favorable" to the implement
tation of the Cheribon inde-
pendence agreement.
tThe Dutch foreign Office, in
memoranda handed to United
States and British Ambassadors,
said the Soekarno government
was "totalitarian in inspiration"
kept hostages and lacked full sup,
port Of the island people)
Months of Wrangling.
Gen. Soedirman, Indonesian CON-
mander, spoke after President
Soekarno and said his side still
hoped for a peaceful settlement,
but that he had ordered the Ma
tionalist army (of about 100000
troops to counterattack every time
the Dutch struck at them.
The shooting resulted after
months of wrangling in which the
Dutch and natives failed to agree
on methods of implementing the
Cheribon agreement, providing for
complete independence under the
Netherlands crown in 1949. =.
1--WE appeal to the world to realize
the full significance of these actions
the Dutch have TAKEN" President
Soekarno said. II am convinced
that justice is on our side and we are
prepared to put the question before
the U. NJ, which was formed to Sc
cure the peace of the world"
Without detailing the land, sea
and air attacks, President Soekarno
entreated Indonesians from Su-
matra to New Guinea" to defend
the republic, which he called a
symbol of Indonesian Righteousness
and faith"
Dutch Strike at Many Points.
Premier Amir Sjarifcedin spoke
earlier, asserting that what the
Dutch want is a Colonial war ct
the moment when Britain is giving
India freedom and Burma is ap-
preaching independence.
"We asked for arbitration. but
one nation CHollan6 has taken up
arms against u.s." he said.
Police Action" Van Nook Says.
1ndonesian broadcasts and other
sources said the finely equipped
Dutch Army of about 10000 men,
using mostly United States lend
lease and surplus military equip
ment. was striking simultaneously
at numerous points.
DR.. HubertuS J. Van Nook, act
ing Dutch governor general, called
the skirmishing police action"
1t. Gen. Simon II. Spoor, Dutch
commander, said in an order of the
day that "our enemies are those
elements which try to sabotage the
sincere implementation of the
agreements reached, to hinder the
restoration of law and establish
ment of security for all men of good
will in this country and to obstruct
the rehabilitation and reconstruc-
ton of Indonesia."
The Dutch closed down the 1ndo-
neasian news agency Antara and
started military censorship, light now
but nonetheless real.
Bandoeng Attacked.
The Dutch communique, report
ing the air attacks, said no military
of Importance could be
given, commenting:
"It is still impossible to give then
to what the reactions will
be of the populations whose fate are
at stake"
An Associated Press report from
Jogjakarta quoted Antara as saying
(See INDONES1A, Page A-4)
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