Ext 6116/46(S) 'Secret Weekly Political Intelligence Summaries, nos 356-416, August 1946-November 1947' [‎12v] (24/978)

20
August 1st should be interpreted as
meaning that the use of the armed forces
of either party by hostile action to extend
its control over territory not occupied by
it on August 4th, 1947, is inconsistent
with the Council resolution of August 1st.
“ Should it appear that some with
drawals of armed forces be necessary,
invites the parties to conclude between
them as soon as possible the agreements
referred to in its resolution of August
25th, 1947.”
Seven voted in favour, Poland against,
Colombia, Syria and U.S.S.R. abstained.
The effect of the resolution will be to leave
the Committee of Good Offices free. It
omits all reference to article 40 of the
Charter, its mention of withdrawal is not
a demand, which the Soviet resolution and
Colonel Hodgson made, for withdrawal to
the ‘ £ ante helium '' positions, it does not,
as did the Soviet and Polish resolution and
Colonel Hodgson in his speech on the 29th
October, lay the blame exclusively or mainly
on the Dutch, and it contains a passage
which can include Indonesian incitements
in violations of the cease fire resolution.
General Romulo again displayed the
balance of his judgment when he explained
the technical military problem behind a
demand for military withdrawal, and
dissociated himself from those who sup
ported the Indonesian case purely from
political propaganda motives.
Mr. Katz-Suchy of Poland, in a speech
described by Dr. Van Kleffens as full of
exaggerations too gross for comment, put
forward a resolution, blaming the Dutch
for everything, instructing them to with
draw from the ££ territory of the Republic
of Indonesia.” and threatening them with
enforcement measures under article 40 of
the Charter. The resolution was supported
by U.S.S.R. and Poland, and opposed by
Belgium, France, U.K. and U.S. All the
others abstained.
Colonel Hodgson (Australia) said that
had both sides passed on the cease fire order
in the same terms as had the Indonesian
Commanders, trouble might by now have
ended. Dutch mopping-up operations he
regarded as totally unjustified, and if the
Council allowed the situation to continue,
it would be acquiescing in a breach of
Article 40. Even though the Consuls hgd,
been unable to agree on a recommendatitm,
Australian military advice was that the
only practical step open to the Council was
to recommend withdrawal to the ante
helium positions. Therefore Australia
would support the Soviet resolution,
reserving the right to revive her own
resolution, if the Soviet’s were rejected.
Both Soviet and Australian resolutions
were rejected, the voting being: Soviet
resolution, Australia, Colombia, Poland,
U.S.S.R. in favour, Belgium, France, U.K.,
U.S. against, China, Brazil, Syria
abstained : Australian resolution, Austra
lia, Colombia, Poland, Syria and U.S.S.R.
in favour, Belgium against, Brazil, China,
France, U.K. and U.S. abstained.
Dr. Van Kleffens spoke with greater
knowledge than most. He praised the
efforts of the Consuls, but regretted their
failure to explain why it had proved
impossible to observe the cease fire to the
letter, or why fruitful consultations with
Djokjakarta were impossible with Indo
nesian incitements continuing. He de
plored the so-called scorched earth policy
of wanton destruction with its accompany
ing violence to property and persons and he
noted with distaste a tendency to accept as
quislings all Indonesians who did not
follow the Republic, and who in the words
of the U.S. observer in Appendix IV of the
report, ££ are read to throw over the idea
of a small Republic controlled by a clique
of greedy men.” Once more he showed
what would be the inevitable consequences
of any withdrawal to ante helium positions,
and quoted the Republican Prime
Minister’s promise of reprisals against
collaborators, given in Appendix VII of
the Consular report.
(For ££ Korea ” see under Far East.)
SPECIAL ARTICLE
TOWARDS A WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION
After long delay and repeated hesita
tions, it now seems likely that the World
Health Organisation will be brought into
being quite soon and that the first World
Health Assembly will meet about next May
or June. On 3rd October the Third Com
mittee (Social and Humanitarian) of the
Assembly adopted a resolution—the latest