HC Deb 30 July 1947 vol 441 cc434-7
19. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of events in Indonesia; if the Netherlands Government have made any further response to his efforts to mediate in this dispute; and if he will now give an assurance that no more arms or equipment will be supplied to the Dutch from British sources, and that no facilities will be given for training Dutch troops in British territory, in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

Mr. Bevin

I am afraid that the amount of information officially available on the progress of the military operations in Java and Sumatra is so limited as to render any proper assessment of the situation impossible. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative. His Majesty's Government have prohibited the supply of war material to the Nertherlands East Indies from Singapore and British territories in the Far East, and training facilities in this area. Further, no supplies of war materials intended for the Netherlands East Indies will be permitted from this country.

20. Mr. Bramall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what report has been received from the British Consul-General in Batavia on his request to the Netherlands East Indies authorities for a respite of 24 hours before hostilities were started.

Mr. Bevin

No such request was made to the Netherlands East Indies authorities by the British Consul-General at Batavia, who was not informed till the evening of 20th July that military action would begin at dawn on the 21st.

Mr. Bramall

Is it not a fact that the Consul-General, Mr. Mitchison, to whose good work everyone has rightly paid tribute, was requested by the Indonesian authorities to ask the Dutch authorities to give them 24 hours to consider the new demands which they were making, and that he did pass this request on to the Dutch authorities?

Mr. Bevin

I cannot recall any telegram to that effect without looking it up. Mr. Mitchison immediately communicated with me, and when I arrived in London from the North, I went straight into the office to try to do what I could that night.

22. Mr. Bramall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that use is not being made by the Dutch armed forces of the Port of Singapore for the transport of arms and equipment to Java.

Mr. Bevin

His Majesty's Government have prohibited the supply of war material to the Netherlands East Indies from Singapore.

Mr. Bramall

Will my right hon. Friend take steps to see the world knows that the stories being spread by certain Indo- elements, and passed on by certain elements in this country, are quite untrue?

Mr. Bevin

I do not think there is a better sounding-board than this House.

24. Mr. Chamberlain

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a request for mediation in Indonesia has yet been made by the Dutch Government; what other action is contemplated by His Majesty's Government in this matter; and whether His Majesty's Government are prepared to arrange for medical and other necessary supplies to be made available to the Indonesian forces.

Mr. Bevin

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. As regards the second part, His Majesty's Government have been in consultation with interested Governments, including the United States, but I am not in a position to make any statement. So far as the despatch of medical supplies to the Indonesian authorities is concerned, His Majesty's Government have already approached the Netherlands Government in this matter, and the latter have readily agreed in principle to such supplies being despatched with the permission of the Dutch authorities in the Netherlands East Indies, to whom they have sent appropriate instructions.

Mr. Chamberlain

While appreciating the answer to the last part of the Question, may I ask, in regard to mediation, whether the Foreign Secretary will bear in mind the possibility of mediation and reference to the United Nations going on at the same time? Does he not agree that there is a plain duty in regard to reference to the United Nations, and that we should not withhold our moral duty in this matter and leave it to Australia and India?

Mr. Bevin

Any Government has the right to refer to the United Nations, but I think it is difficult for me to pursue mediation and reference at the same time. India has a perfect right to refer to the United Nations, and so has Australia.

Mr. Eden

Are we to understand from that answer that the right hon. Gentleman's offer for mediation is open and remains open?

Mr. Bevin

It is open and remains open.

25. Mr. Bramall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to give an assurance that no war material will be supplied to the Dutch Government while hostilities continue in Indonesia.

Mr. Bevin

His Majesty's Government have suspended all military supplies and facilities to the Netherlands authorities from the Far East.

Mr. H. D. Hughes

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many Dutch military and naval troops are now being trained in this country, and whether any steps can be taken to bring that arrangement to an end pending cessation of hostilities in the East Indies?

Mr. Bevin

No, Sir, I cannot do that. After all, Holland was overrun by the Germans, and we entered into a very solemn undertaking to re-equip and train the Dutch Army which had been destroyed. I am entitled to say to the Dutch Government, however, that we are not doing this for the purpose of this war in Indonesia. I cannot go beyond that.