The Netherlands Ambassador called on me yesterday and left the
following memorandum.

'The crews of some of the Netherlands ships that are lying ready
to sail from Australia to the Netherlands East Indies went on
strike in connection with the prevailing unrest amongst Indonesian
crews and also with the reports about difficulties in Java. Owing
to agitation by Australian Communists, the movement has infected
Australian dock-workers who now refuse to load the ships. Dr. Van
Mook is approaching the Australian Government and the Australian
Army authorities with a view to-
(1) Obtain loadings of the ships with the help of the Military
and,
(2) Point out to the Trade Unions that their attitude is
inadmissible as the transport forms part of a military operation
and that the cargoes consist primarily of necessary equipment and
relief The first two ships which are destined for Batavia carry
all the Nica and Nefis [1] personnel, they could sail with
temporary Netherlands crews. The strike however prevents the
loading of any of them.

The Netherlands Government desire to draw the attention to the
assistance rendered to Australia by the same Netherlands ships
during the past years and also by other Netherlands ships such as
the Hospital ship ORANJE. It should also be borne in mind that the
Netherlands Prisoners of War and Internees would be the first to
suffer by the action.'