Australian attitudes and policies towards the Netherlands East Indies and Indonesian independence, 1942-1949
Abstract
This thesis is an historical analysis of Australian attitudes
and policies towards the Netheriands East Indies (N.E.I.) and Indonesian
independence during the Pacific War and, more particularly, during the
Dutch-Indonesian dispute, 1945~1949. It traces the assertion by the Curtin
Labor government, and especially by Evatt, of an aspiration for Australia to
have a close post-war relationship with the N.E.I., particularly in matters
relating to security. The thesis shows how this aspiration was both modified
and diplomatically complicated by the Dutch-Indonesian dispute. An examination
of Australia's policies towards the Indonesian Republic reveals that
Australia's response to post-war developments in Indonesia was cautious and
ambivalent. The thesis shows that, although in 1947 Australia assumed the
role of diplomatic protagonist of the Republic, its support for the Republic
was at all times qualified. The constant objective of Australian diplomacy
was a compromise settlement between the Dutch and the Indonesians in which
the Dutch conceded self-government to the Indonesians who in turn voluntarily
accepted Dutch cooperation, especially in defence and economic matters.
Such a settlement was considered to be in Australia's best security interest.
While the Australian government recognised the desirability of "legitimate"
Indonesian nationalist demands being met, it clearly retained reservations
about Australia's relationship to an autonomous Indonesia.