With reference to our correspondence ending with your letter of
5th April, no. 1429 [1], I have the honour to inform you that Dr.

H. J. van Mook has been appointed Lieutenant-Governor-General of
the Netherlands Indies by Her Majesty's Government in London, and
that he has assumed his duties since his arrival in this country
on October 23rd.

The establishment of a Netherlands Indies Government, as announced
and explained in my memorandum of March 8th, 1944 [2], has
therefore become a fact. This Government will avail themselves
with gratitude of the hospitality extended to them by the
Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, and have their
temporary seat in Camp Columbia, Brisbane. As a result of this
change the Netherlands Indies Commission is dissolved; their
functions are taken over by the Netherlands East Indies
Government. The Netherlands Indies trade commissioner [3] will
carry on his duties as before; his office remains at Melbourne.

The Netherlands Indies Government is composed as follows: Dr. H.

J. van Mook, Lieutenant-Governor-General; and the Heads of the
Departments:

Dr. N. S. Blom, Director of Justice;

Dr. R. E. Smits, Director of Finance;

Mr. Ch. O. van der Plas, Director of Interior and Chairman of the
Board of Department Heads;

Mr. P. A. Kerstens, Director of Education;

Dr. J. E. van Hoogstraten, Director of Economic Affairs and acting
General Secretary of the Government;

Mr. P. H. W. Sitsen, Director of Public Works;

Lt. General L. H. van Oyen, C. in C. Netherlands Indies Army and
Head of Department of War.

In order to avoid possible misunderstanding I have to add that Dr.

van Mook has retained his portfolio as Minister of the Colonies,
pending the resignation of the present cabinet, which will take
place shortly after its return to the liberated Netherlands. This
resignation will not affect his position as Lieutenant-Governor-
General unless and until the new ministry should decide otherwise.

VAN AERSSEN BEYEREN