NEW DELHI, 20 January 1949

'GRAVE MISTAKES' IN INDONESIA
DAMAGE TO U.N. PRESTIGE MUST BE REMEDIED

'The Australian Government, whose policy it is to carry out its
obligations to the United Nations with sincerity and earnestness,
will give immediate and earnest consideration to the reports and
observations which will be taken back to it at the conclusion of
this Conference by its officials attending it.'
This was stated by the Australian representative, Dr. J.W. Burton,
in the course of his speech to the plenary session of the
Conference today.

Dr. Burton began by saying that the thoughts already expressed by
the Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, in his opening
address were so much in accord with those of Australia that he
felt there was little he need say in addition.

'We are convened here today by the Prime Minister of India',
continued Dr. Burton, 'to discuss the problem which has been
presented to the United Nations and in particular to the peoples
of the United Nations of this area, by the failure so far of the
Security Council effectively to deal with the situation which has
been brought about in Indonesia. We are all agreed on the general
principles involved, that is the principles of the United Nations,
including the stated principle of self-government. We are
concerned with detailed suggestion for the consideration of the
Security Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations as
to how these principles might be implemented in this case of
Indonesia, and in this case only.'
'We do not meet in any vindictive spirit; we do not contemplate
reprisals or restraints as an objective. Our attitude is rather
that a mistake has been made which has cost lives and has brought
about suffering not only to the people of Indonesia but also to
the people of the Netherlands who have themselves already suffered
too much at the hands of an aggressor. A mistake has been made
from the point of view of the future of the United Nations. A
mistake has been made from the point of view of world peace and
the development of independent political institutions which alone
can withstand the infiltration of undemocratic influences.'
'We have only one objective at this Conference and that is to try
to off-set or remedy these grave mistakes: to find a way in which
peace can be restored in Indonesia, a peace which is just and
which, therefore, can be lasting; to endeavour to remedy the
damage already done to the prestige and standing of the United
Nations and the Security Council without which we can have no
security.'
'We can make a real contribution to the solution of this problem
as a regional conference assisting the Security Council in
accordance with the Charter. Wisdom does not reside only in
countries having great economic or military power. We assembled
here, therefore, with our special knowledge of the area, have a
duty to advise, and if our deliberations are characterised by
objective thinking, persistent support for the principles,
purposes and procedures of the United Nations, and by positive
constructive planning, then our advice must ultimately be accepted
by the peoples of the United Nations.'
'As is well known, Australia as the member of the Security
Council, representing this area at the time of Dutch military
action, has from the first made every endeavour to obtain a
settlement to this dispute. We will not rest content until peace
is restored.'
'The Australian Minister for External Affairs and President of the
United Nations General Assembly, Dr. H.V. Evatt, just a few days
ago observed that not a single member of the Security Council has
justified the aggressive action of the Dutch and added "I
sincerely hope that in view of the Security Council's discussions
and the general feeling, the Dutch will recede as far as possible
from the action taken and release the Indonesian leaders from
captivity with a view to a quick settlement of the new
constitutional set-up for the United States of Indonesia".'
'That I am sure is the hope of all of us at this Conference.'
'We are meeting, therefore, with a specific purpose-that of
assisting the United Nations in settling finally and justly the
problem of Indonesia. The countries represented here are in
general agreement on the question, and it is for the Conference in
its later session to clarify in greater detail our thoughts so
that we can make positive and helpful suggestions, and even at
this last moment endeavour to retrieve the position so that not
only will the peoples of Indonesia look forward to an era of
freedom, peace and increasing prosperity but also so that the
prestige and standing of the United Nations, which is so vital to
all of us, shall be maintained.'
In conclusion, Dr. Burton expressed gratitude for the
consideration and hospitality which had been shown by the
Government of India, by the Prime Minister in particular, and by
his very able officers who by careful preparation had already
ensured the success of the deliberations.

...................................

Offered with the compliments of the Public Relations Officer,
Office of the High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia
in India, Connaught Place, New Delhi.