At a committee meeting this morning, I endeavoured to expedite a
report on the political developments in West Java. Other members
however insisted that no reports should be commenced before the
Dutch have submitted their replies to the Committee's questions on
the West Java Conference. [1] These are promised by the end of the
week.

2. Reports from military observers indicate that a critical
situation is developing in the Bantam area where there is an acute
shortage of food, clothing, medical supplies and general
amenities. The Netherlands are severely restricting trade and-
communications with the area and this may be a deliberate policy
aimed at prising Bantam from the Republic on the Madura pattern. A
brief factual report on Bantam expressing the need for an early
restoration of trade and commerce should therefore be included in
West Java report. As there will be opposition to this from other
members of the Committee, I should be glad to receive instructions
whether I should submit a minority report. [2]