Relapse in Indonesia
The difficulty of preventing violence from taking its course is being demonstrated in the case of Indonesia. The Dutch, having begun military action on July zoth and ended it on August 4th, have been behaving in an exemplary manner ever since. The Republican attitude, on the other hand, has been more and more provocative until it has become doubtful whether even the pretence of a truce can be kept up much longer. The events speak for themselves. The United States offered to mediate between the parties ; tht offer was accepted by the Dutch and only half-accepted by the Republicans, who wished to make conditions as to the form which the mediation should take. The Security Council took the steps required of it under Article II of the Charter and called upon the parties to cease fire, settle their dispute, and keep the Council informed ; the Dutch swallowed the implication that the Republic of Indonesia could be regarded as a sovereign State but would not agree to arbitration by the Security Council, while the Republicans asked the Council to order the Dutch to withdraw to their starting positions. The Dutch reaction has the sanction of strict legality, while the Indonesian reaction is contrary to common sense, since a withdrawal of Dutch troops would be immediately followed by reprisals upon innocent and defenceless people. M. Gromyko accepts the Indonesian case and professes to see in the American offer of mediation an insult to the authority of the Security Council, thus simultaneously prejudging the issue and giving encouragement to irresponsible Indonesian elements. In the meantime the guerrilla activity of the Republicans is reaching such a pitch that the Dutch troops may be unable to hold their fire much longer. The sufferers, as usual, will be the people of Java.
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