Evening star., 1949-12-26
Indonesia Is on Guard
AGAINST Communists
As She Gets Freedom
By the Associoted Press

By the Assoeioted Press
BATAVIA, Dec. RELATIONSHIPS
Minister of Defense said tonight
he expects troublemakers to try
to mar the peaceful transfer Of
power from the Dutch government
to the emerging United States of
Indonesia, which begins tomorrow.
The minister, Sultan Hamengku
Buwono of Jogiakarta. warned
that the new government would
use armed force If necessary
against any one disturbing the
transfer of sovereignty in these
rich isles. He did not say so in
so many words. but his reference
apparently was to Communists.
Some 5000 troops and police of
the republic of Indonesia, largest
state ofsthe new U. S. l.. moved
into Batavia and surrounding
areas to police the city. Dutch
controlled troops and police until
now have maintained order there.
Troops Patrol Streets.
Wearing the uniforms of the
republics guerrilla forces, the
Indonesian forces patrolled the
streets in open trucks armed with
machine gums. Machine-guns were
set up Christmas night at several
street intersections. Armed Indo-
nesian guards took up sentry posts
in front of some foreign consul
lates.
A free nation of 100000 In
donesians becomes reality to-
morrow after long years OF
struggle.
Many Dutchmen in the East
Indies express the belief the
Netherlands gave away too much
too rapidly. Many Indonesians
say they could have won much
more by continuing guerrilla
warfare. Both blarse outsiders
for pushing them into the COM
promise. American pressure Isl
the usual explanation.
But although both Dutch and
Indonesians may not like every
thing about the new set-up for an
independent United States OF In
donesia, linked to the Dutch
crown, they accept it and appear
determined to make it work.
The partners have in common
q sense of urgency, for they will
not have to look far to see the
Communists pushing over un-
stable and disorganized govern
ments of their Asian neighbors to
the north.
The task here, as laid down by
President Soekarno in his inau-
gural address, is to unite and
work hard "to fill the vacuum OF
this thing called freedom" |
In what they call a psychological
compromise, the Indonesians. out
Of respect for Dutch feelings, will
continue to recognize Queen
Juliana as their monarch. with
out granting her executive power.
They remain in union with the
Dutch homeland under the crown.
without this affecting their SOW
ereignty.
Simultaneous with ceremonies
at the royal palace in Amster-
dam - where Queen Julian
personally will sign documents
confirming the transfer of SOW
ereignty-the Indonesian national
emblem will be raised in Batavia,
as the new government assumes
power. ~.@.'
The Batavia ceremony is the
one that looms large in the mind
Of the individual Indonesian. His
leaders have made a compromise.
But he does not like to think of
his freedom as something being
presented to him, but rather that
he is taking over in Indonesia.
Earlier, it was expected that
DR.. Soekarno would accept power
from the Dutch officials in Ba-
tavia. But the Indonesian COM
nittee planning the affair con-
sidered it below the Presidents
position, as head of the sovereign
nation, to accept authority from
the Dutch high commissioner, a
civil servant.
A delegation, headed by the new
nations minister of defense, Sui
tan Hamengku Buwono, will rep
resent President Soekarno. The
delegation will lead a triumphal
procession through the city on
Wednesday when Soekarno will
assume his presidential duties in
the white palace of the old Dutch
governor generals.
At the moment sovereignty is
transferred, the new republic will
be linked to Holland in voluntary
partnership.
A Saxon flute made from a
birds bone, has been found at
Thetford, England.