BASING OF NETHERLANDS FORCES ON AUSTRALIA

APPROACH BY NETHERLANDS MINISTER IN AUSTRALIA

In a memorandum to the Department of Defence, dated 4th September
[1], the Department of External Affairs communicated the following
letter [2] from the Netherlands Minister in Australia:-

'I have the honour, by direction, to inform you, that my
Government have decided to organise a force of about 30,000 men
soon after the liberation of Holland and to send these troops to
the Far East, where they will be used in the Netherlands East
Indies after having undergone some additional training. My
Government would appreciate if this training could take place in
Australia and have instructed me to approach the Commonwealth
Government on this subject.

I would therefore feel very much obliged if your Government could
let me know whether, in principle, they are agreeable to the
arrival, accommodation, training and maintenance of the above-
mentioned Netherlands Forces in Australia, details being left to
be discussed between the Australian Army Authorities and the
Netherlands Commander-in-Chief, General L. H. van Oyen.'

2. REPORT OF DEFENCE COMMITTEE
The Defence Committee submitted the following report [3] on the
proposal:-

'Before any commitment can be accepted, or acceptance in principle
even, the following aspects should be considered by the
Government.

2. The allotment of major forces to the Southwest Pacific Area is
a matter for determination by the Combined Chiefs of Staff at
Washington. This allotment takes into account the tasks and the
nature of the forces required in accordance with the strategic
policy which can only be determined by the Chiefs of Staff. The
Chiefs of Staff have recently had under consideration the
possibility of basing large British Forces in this area. No
decision has yet been received in regard to these proposals, but
undoubtedly the possibility of having to accommodate and train
additional forces for the Netherlands East Indies would affect the
plans already considered by the Chiefs of Staff for basing the
British Forces referred to. 3. It will be necessary for
consideration to be given to the nature of the ultimate employment
in the Southwest Pacific Area of the Dutch troops referred to. If
they are to be garrison troops for Netherlands East Indies after
the Japanese have been driven out of these areas, the first
question that arises is the priority of resources which are
available in Australia. Therefore, it is suggested that it would
be quite inappropriate at this stage for the Commonwealth
Government to agree in principle to accept additional commitments.

It is suggested that the matter should be referred by the Dutch
Government to the highest authority responsible for strategic
employment of Allied Forces in this area. In the meantime,
Australian Army staff can examine the proposal to ascertain what
is involved in accommodating, training and maintaining these
troops in Australia. 4. Another aspect that must be considered on
the highest plane is the question of the allocation of shipping to
move a force of this size from Europe to Australia. Priority in
shipping resources will no doubt require that the forces to be
made available immediately for fighting the Japanese will be
allotted such shipping as is available.'

3. VIEWS OF DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
The Department of External Affairs has expressed the following
views [4]:-

'It would be politically desirable that a Dutch force should be
based on Australia. An Australian contribution in the shape of
such assistance to the Dutch in the recovery of the Netherlands
Indies would assist to a considerable degree in the realisation of
Australia's general policy of fostering Australian influence and
creating conditions for future development of Australian trade in
this region. In general Australian political interest would be
promoted by such assistance to the Dutch.'

4. SUBMISSION TO COUNCIL
The question of the basing of Netherlands Forces on Australia is
referred for consideration by the Advisory War Council.

JOHN CURTIN