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. Show more