The Pittsburgh Press (September 4, 1946)
British spur truce in Java
Empire troops to quit island by Nov. 30
By George Weller
BATAVIA, Java – Still without sanction from either the Dutch or Indonesians to act as arbiter in Java’s war, Britain today edged the warring groups a bit further toward eventual peace talks and a truce.
The kernel of the issue – whether the Dutch shall bring more reinforcements to the Indies – remains unbroken. The Indonesians have about 100,000 troops against 70,000 well-armed Dutch.
Britain’s political siege-gun, Lord Killearn, served notice on the Indonesians that British troops will evacuate by November 30. Warning that Scotch-Indian troops would drop their buffer role was placed before the Indonesian republic’s Premier Sjahrir in hope of accelerating a truce preliminary to negotiations.
With one, and possible two, crack divisions poised to embark from the Indies, the Dutch still are withholding any pledge to halt reinforcements. Neutral observers have estimated that the Dutch might need several more divisions in order to attempt a general sweep of the islands.
The moderate wing among the republicans is said to be willing for the Dutch to bring more troops into the fringe islands, but are pressing the British to halt Dutch landing of new forces in Java.