Evening star., 1957-12-28
Indonesia Said
1oFace Famine
From BungIing
Ex-Vice President
Insists Drive Hurts
lslunds, Not Dutch

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Dec.
28 tA.--Former Vice President
Mohammed Hatta charged to-
day that officials have so mis-
handled the current anti-Dutch
campaign that they are "hurt-
ing mdonesia more than the
Dutch"
In an open letter Mr.. Hatta
said bungling had brought
threat OF fannie to this lush
island nation. The Indonesian
news agency PIA reported
today acute food shortages in
parts of Central Java.
The cabinet met to discuss
barter trade now being con-
Quoted in some parts OF Indo-
nesia to combat breakdowns in
regular food distribution.
Before the cabinet meeting
Foreign Minister Subandrio
confirmed reports that In
doneSia win ask Communist
countries for arms.
Negotiated Independence
In an open letter appearing
In newspapers throughout In
donesia. Mr.. Hatta. who nego-
tiated independence from the
Netherlands in l949 asked:
rs it necessary for the In
donesian people TO sacrifice and
suffer to speed up the return
Of West Irian to the Repuhlic?"
The campaign Of seizing the
SIS billion Dutch investment
in Indonesia and forcing most
Of the $4,000 Dutch citizens out
OF the country began December
? in retaliation for the Neither
West New Guinea. Indonesia
calls the area West Irian and
claims 1t should have been sur
rendered in the i949 independ-
ence agreement.
Mr.. Hatta said famine is
facing the country mot because
rice is short but because of
disorder in distribution, ship
ping and communications" He
blamed the disorder on the
West Irian Action Committee
which has led the campaign.
Lack Of Planning Cited
III We had planned. our peo-
pie would not suffer" Mr..
Hatta said. Due to lack Of
planning an economic calamity
is approaching" The campaign
was touched off By the United
Nations failure to approve o.
resolution backing the Indo-
nesian position.
II reiterate." Mr.. Hatta SAID.
Dutch. not Indonesian. inter-
ests should be undermined. The
Dutch economy here must be
liquidated. but not in q fashion
which viii cripple u.s."
Mr.. Hatta's attack was ex-
pected by some foreign OBJ
servers here to widen the
breach between him and Presi-
dent Sukarno which led to Mr..
Hatta's retirement from the
government q year ago. A par
liamentary committee has been
trying to reconcile them before
Mr.. Sukarno leaves about jan
uary S on a trip abroad ofi-
cially billed as a rest cure.
Hatta Hope for Stability
With most of the outer is
lands in open rebellion against
control from Jakarta. many
Indonesian leaders have felt
that Mr.. Hatta's return to the
government is the only hope to
return the internal stability
that Indonesia has lacked for
more than a year. Mr.. Hatta
is considered BY many the un-
ofiicial spokesman for the
outer islands.
The Sukarno-Hatta split was
largely based on Mr.. Sukarno's
allowing Communists a free
hand to increase their IN
fiuence. I.
Mr.. Hatta also wrote: I'VE
are weak on the sea and in the
air. Our youth cannot be asked
to swim the ocean to get back
West Irian. 1t is by peace. not
war, that West Irian will be re-
turned TO U.S."
Foreign Minister Subandrio
confirmed today reports that
See INDONESIA, Page A-3I