Following is a summary of a report on the military situation
forwarded to the Security Council on January 24th. [1]

(1) Disadvantages are arising from the location of military
observers with various Netherlands Headquarters in areas recently
occupied which means they are denied access to
(a) Former Netherlands-controlled areas such as West Java,
movements into which by armed Republican adherents have been
reported.

(b) Areas in former Republican territory outside the main towns
and roads.

(c) Republican sources.

(2) Practically all large towns and important installations given
to Netherlands units as objectives were taken when Spoor's 'cease
hostilities' orders [2] were issued.

(3) As a result of Republican guerilla tactics and sabotage
(a) It is impossible for the Netherlands forces to cease fire,
(b) Roads are considered unsafe,
(c) Inhabitants are uneasy and afraid of reprisals,
(d) Netherlands have insufficient forces for adequate patrolling,
(e) Law and order have not been established in former Republican
territory, but on the contrary serious disorders have been
created.

(4) There has been a large amount of damage and there is economic
confusion in most of the territory formerly controlled by the
Republic.

(5) Newly occupied areas are still under military control.

(6) In conclusion 'to be completely effective a cessation of
hostilities necessarily must be agreed upon by both parties. Since
the Republican Government has been prevented from functioning
there is no authority on the Republican side to implement the
Security Council's resolution [3] directing both parties "Cease
hostilities". Despite the Netherlands order to its troops to
"cease hostilities" such cessation has not been and cannot be
attained in the present situation.'