The Task in Indonesia
The chances of ultimate success for the talks between Indo- nesian and Dutch representatives are gradually growing. It would be useless to pretend that the extreme nationalists in Java have yet learned to refrain from the new and exciting sports of arson and murder and to handle machine-guns and mortars without letting them go off occasionally, even against each other. But these things settle nothing. The real work of pacification goes on at the con- ferences which have: shifted from Batavia to Holland. The central problem at present is to square the Dutch wish for a Commonwealth of Indonesia, associated, under the Queen, in equality with Holland, with Dr. Sjahrir's insistence that Indonesia must be recognised as a republic. If a formula is found, Dr. Sjahrir's party will then have to win the support of elements less moderate than themselves. The main point is that the talks should not be interrupted now that the contact between Dutch and Indonesians, re-established by Lord Inverchapel's patience and skill, has begun to yield results. There is an enormous amount to be done.. Quite apart from the settlement of the constitutional issue, the islands have to be cleared of 350,000 Japanese, all refugees must be moved to absolute safety, and British and Indian troops must be relieved of their unwanted task. The British contribution has not be=t small. There is some impatience to hand over to the Dutch. But ultimately the Indonesian problem must be handed over to all the inhabitants of the East Indies—from cultured Javanese to the primitive hunters of Sumatra, to say nothing of Dutch, Eurasians and Chinese. It will take many years.
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