At 1500 hours 3rd January the Committee was advised by the
Netherlands Delegation that instructions had been received from
The Hague permitting the Committee, the Consular Commission and
Military Observers to carry out Security Council's instructions to
report on the situation in Indonesia after 18th December, 1948.

Attached were copies of the Netherlands statements to the Security
Council of 27th December and 29th December [1] and an undated
order by Spoor that military activities and hostilities in Java
were terminated on 31st December, 1948.

2. Spoor's order goes on 'after 31st December the task of the
troops is consequently confined and limited to action against
roving groups, bands or individuals who attempt to cause unrest or
as was stated by our representative [2] to the Security Council to
act against disturbing elements who either individually or
collectively endanger public security or interfere with or prevent
the supply of food and other essential commodities to needy
population'.

3. In its reply the Committee has asked for an immediate meeting
between the Committee's senior military observers and the Chief of
Staff of the Netherlands Army to arrange details for redeployment
of Military Observers and has expressed the hope that the
Netherlands Delegation is now in a position to furnish the
Committee with remaining information requested on 28th December.

[3]

4. The Committee has also asked the time of issue and other
details concerning the order referred to above which does not seem
known to Army Headquarters in Batavia at 6 p.m. 2nd January.

5. The Republic and Independent sources report that guerrilla
resistance in Java continues. The Dutch now admit considerable
damage to the town of Magelang and to estates in Solo area and
estimate that rehabilitation of the latter will take two years. In
Solo area estate labour has disappeared. The Dutch claim that they
will be very shortly 'concluding' their Military operations in
Sumatra.