Evening star., 1949-05-10
Liqht Over Indonesio

The measure OF agreement arrived at
between the Dutch and the Indonesian
Republican leaders is a hopeful portent
that genuine settlement of a vexatious
problem may be in sight. The terms agreed
on bear the earmarks Of mutual compro-
misses that indicate desire on both sides
to come to a real understanding.
Ever since the Dutch police action" of
last December, which overran the territory
of the Republic, captured most of its
officials, and broke up its organized forces,
the Republican leaders have refused to
negotiate until the Dutch agreed to re-
instate their government as going con-
Germ. The Dutch now promise to evacuate
the Republican capital, Jokjakarta, and
the surrounding region. This restores the
Republics status and prestige, although
the designated area will be much smaller
than the territory originally under its
jurisdiction. 1t likewise conforms to the
recommendations of the United Nations
Commission which has been trying to
mediate the dispute. The Dutch agree
likewise to release all political prisoners
taken since last December and refrain from
recognizing any territory now occupied
under Republican control. This embraces
roughly both Central Java and parts of
the adjacent island of sumatra.
Much more important for the prospects
Of an understanding are the concessions
made by the Republicans. The chief
stumbling block to agreement has been the
disinclination of the Republican leaders to
recognize the other native regimes set up
In the archipelago as equal partners in the
projected United States of Indonesia, and
to sit down with them and the Dutch
authorities in working out federal gov
ernment for the whole. The Republican
attitude has been that those regimes were
Dutch puppets who could not be considered
free agents. In addition, the Republic has
assumed q primacy in the archipelago
which neither the Dutch nor the other
native regimes were disposed to admit
Now, at last, the Republican leaders agree
to participate In round-table conference
at which all parties will take part. Mean
while, the Republican leaders are to in
struct their adherents who are still in arms
to cease guerrilla activities.
Once restored to its official status. the
Republican regime should be better able
to carry out its engagements even though
1t will not have the area or military
strength 1t formerly possessed. One of the
chief difficulties experienced by the Repub-
lican leaders in the past has been their
inability to control their own armed forces
or factions within their own ranks, who
were opposed to workable arrangements
with the Dutch or the other native regimes
Those radical or undisciplined elements
have been mostly dispersed during the
Dutch occupation. So the relatively mod
crate leaders of the Republic should have
much freer hand than before in negoti-
ating agreements that will stick.
1t is to be hoped that the proposed
round-table conference will succeed. A
general settlement eliminating in the
setting up of a federal government for the
whole of Indonesia is vital to the restora-
ton of peace, order and economic recovery
for the archipelago. From such settle
ment every one would profit except the
Communists and other troublemakers who
use unsettlement and disorder for their
own sinister ends