PROPOSED ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE IN THE HAGUE - DR BEEL'S PRESS
CONFERENCE IN BATAVIA

The following account of the Press Conference held in Batavia by
the High Representative of the Crown, Dr. Louis Beel, on 1st March
is derived from Dutch press sources. While no doubt Batavia will
already have reported fully regarding this press conference, the
'angling' of Dr. Beel's remarks may provide a pointer to likely
Dutch attitudes on certain questions in the event of Conference
finally being held.

1. Invitation to Dr. Sukarno
Dr Beel is reported to have said that Sukarno had been invited to
attend the proposed Round Table Conference in The Hague as
'President of the Republic of Indonesia'. He said that at the
request of the Republicans he could make no statement as yet
regarding the talks between his chef de cabinet, Dr. Koets, and
the Republican leaders on Bangka.

2. Release of Republican Leaders
Dr. Beel said that immediately on his return to Batavia from
Holland the existing restrictions had been withdrawn. The return
of the Indonesian leaders to Jokjakarta was not yet possible
because martial law still prevailed in the area including that
city. The Republican leaders had the same rights as any other
citizens in Indonesia and the Netherlands Government was
responsible for their safety just as much as for anyone else. He
stressed that their release was in no way dependent on their
acceptance of the invitation to attend The Hague Conference.

3. Venue for Conference
Dr. Beel said that the proposed conference concerned the transfer
of Netherlands sovereignty and therefore the seat of the
Netherlands Government was considered appropriate as a place to
hold it. Furthermore the Netherlands had for a long period been
sending missions to Indonesia and this time wished to be host. He
added that the Netherlands Government was of the opinion that both
for the Indonesian delegations and the Netherlands public, the
contact would be of value and would be an opportunity for free,
peaceful and safe public discussions.

4. Date of Conference
Dr. Beel said that March 12th had been selected on the principle
of 'the sooner the better'. It had not been possible to choose an
earlier date because there was a Benelux [1] Conference at The
Hague from 10th to 12th March. To the question whether
postponement was possible, Dr. Beel replied 'preferably not-unless
there are technical or very urgent reasons for a postponement'.

5. Representation at the Conference
Dr. Beel did not think his presence at The Hague would be required
and in any case he had duties to perform in Indonesia. Invitations
had been sent to the Indonesian Federalist Convention (B.F.O.) the
Republic of Indonesia, the Provisional Government and
representatives of minority groups such as Chinese, Arabs etc. The
number of representatives comprising delegations would be left to
the delegations themselves. The so-called 'autonomous rulers'
would be represented in the Provisional Federal Government by the
Secretary for Autonomous Affairs, and there were also autonomous
rulers in the Federal Convention. New Guinea, being still under
the jurisdiction of the central Government, which had its own
delegation, would not be represented separately.

6. Invitation to the United Nations Commission for Indonesia
Dr. Beel said that he was surprised at the question whether the
entire Commission had been invited or only some members. He said
the entire Commission had been invited and the Netherlands
Government would greatly appreciate it if the Commission would
give its full assistance in obtaining a favourable result, and for
its part the Government would co-operate fully at The Hague to
enable the Commission to fulfil its task.

7. Procedure
Asked whether the Conference would be public or closed, Dr Beel
said this was a matter of procedure for the Conference to decide.

8. Sovereignty question
Dr Beel said that the United States of Indonesia would be 'just as
sovereign as the Netherlands' after the transfer of sovereignty.

He emphasised that he did not consider the proposed Netherlands-
Indonesian Union as a 'super state' over and above the United
States of Indonesia. He denied that it was irresponsible to
transfer sovereignty at this stage because of the 'chaotic
situation'. There was no chaos. Naturally the Republic of the
United States of Indonesia would not be fully capable of immediate
administration. The Netherlands and the United States of Indonesia
would therefore have to come to an agreement on the strength,
deployment and use of Dutch troops. Dr. Beel emphasised that Dutch
troops could be made available only at the request of the United
States of Indonesia which would be responsible for the maintenance
of law and order from the moment that sovereignty was transferred.

In fixing a date for the transfer, account would have to be taken
of measures to put an end to guerrilla fighting. Dutch
administration officials would be transferred to the United States
of Indonesia if they were required and if they themselves agreed.

9. Security Council Resolution [2]

Dr. Beel said that the Security Council resolution had not
provided a solution, only the procedure. The Netherlands
Government considered the present plans as 'definitely the best
means of realising the Security Council resolution in a realistic,
practical and responsible way'. Whether there was to be a Federal
Interim Government now that sovereignty was to be transferred so
much earlier, depended on decisions taken at the Round Table
Conference.

10. Brussels Powers [3]

In reply to a question, Dr. Beel said that the Brussels powers had
not been consulted in the drafting of the Dutch plan.

11. Sanctions against Dutch aircraft (with regard to India's ban
on landing facilities for Dutch aircraft)
Dr. Beel said 'I think India will revise its illegal decision;

otherwise we shall continue to fly via Mauritius'.

(The Mauritius route is now being flown with Constellations on a
regular schedule for passengers and mails. The denial to K.L.M. of
landing facilities on the Indian sub-continent has resulted in
considerable inconvenience and financial loss.)