The speech on the international situation which the Hon. the
Minister for External Affairs [1] delivered in the House of
Representatives on 19th April 1940 contains the following passage
which apparently has been cabled abroad:

'Any large scale invasion of the Netherlands, it will surely be
appreciated, would inevitably affect the status of the Netherlands
East Indies, a territory at our back-door and our closest
neighbour, of which the fate is of immediate and vital concern to
Australia.'
In connection with this statement the Netherlands Government have
now pointed out to me that in case of an attack on the Netherlands
in Europe, the status of the Netherlands East Indies would undergo
no change, as the Governor General possesses all legal and
material means to continue the administration and to ensure public
order.

This latter information may be of interest to you, although
personally I am of the opinion that the word 'status' to which the
message from the Hague refers has been used in a different sense
by Mr. McEwen than it was understood by the Netherlands
Government.

With regard to Japan, I am advised that the Japanese Government at
the time pointed out to the Netherlands Minister in Tokyo [2] that
in view of the close economical ties between the Netherlands
Indies and Japan, a possible extension of the conflict in Europe
to the Netherlands would upset the political and economical
equilibrium in East Asia. Therefore Japan would be deeply
concerned if an extension of the war would lead to a change in the
status quo of the Netherlands Indies.

Since then the Japanese Minister in the Hague [3] has assured the
Netherlands Government that, in case the Netherlands might become
involved in war in Europe, Japan would respect our integrity,
expecting other powers to adopt a similar attitude.

This latter statement is considered in the Hague as being of a
reassuring character.

As last week I had no opportunity to discuss the foregoing matters
with the Minister, I address this letter to you personally, but
would be grateful if you would advise Mr. McEwen. I also send you
a copy of a letter I addressed today to Mr. Curtin. [4]

T. ELINK SCHUURMAN