Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference
Encyclopedia
The Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference was held in the Hague
from August 23 - November 2, 1949, between representatives of the Netherlands
, the Republic of Indonesia
and the BFO (Federal Consultative Assembly) representing various states the Dutch had created in the Indonesian archipelago. Prior to this conference, three other high level meetings between Netherlands and Indonesia took place; the Linggadjati Agreement
(1947), the Renville Agreement
(1948), and the Roem-van Roijen Agreement
(1949). The conference ended with the Netherlands
agreeing to transfer sovereignty to the United States of Indonesia.
passed a resolution condemning the recent Dutch military offensive
against Republican forces in Indonesia and demanded restoration of Republican government. It also urged the resumption of negotiations to find a peaceful settlement between the two sides
Following the 6 July Roem-van Roijen Agreement
, which effectively endorsed the Security Council resolution, Dr. Rum said the Republic of Indonesia, whose leaders were still in exile in Bangka, would participate in the Round Table Conference to speed up handover of sovereignty
Government-in-exile returned to Yogyakarta after 6 months in exile on 6 July 1949. In order to ensure commonality of negotiating position between the Republic and the federal delegates, in the second half of July 1949 and from 31 July – 2 August – Inter-Indonesian Conferences were in Yogyakarta between all component authorities of future United States of Indonesia. The participants agreed on basic principles and framework for the constitution
Following preliminary discussions sponsored by the UN Commission for Indonesia in Jakarta, it was decided the Round Table Conference would be held in the Hague
.
The negotiations resulted in a number of documents, namely a Charter of Transfer of Sovereignty, a Statute of Union, an economic agreement and agreements on social and military affairs
They also reached agreement on the withdrawal of Dutch troops "within the shortest possible time". And for the United States of Indonesia to grant "most favored nation status" to the Netherlands. In addition, there would be no discrimination against Dutch nationals or companies and the Republic agreed to take over trade agreements negotiated by the Dutch East Indies
. However the two major areas of disagreement were over the debts of the Dutch colonial administration and the status of Western New Guinea
.
Negotiations over the internal and external debts of the Dutch East Indies colonial administration were protracted, with each side presenting their own calculations and arguing over whether the United States of Indonesia should be responsible for debts incurred by the Dutch after their surrender to the Japanese
in 1942. In particular the Indonesian delegations were indignant at having to cover what it saw as the costs of Dutch military action against it. Finally, thanks to the intervention of the US member of the UN Commission on Indonesia, the Indonesian side came to realize that agreeing to pay part of the Dutch debt would be the price they would have to pay for the transfer of sovereignty. On October 24, the Indonesian delegations agreed that Indonesian would take over approximately 4.3 billion Guilders of Dutch East Indies government debt.
The issue of the inclusion or not of Western New Guinea almost resulted in the talks becoming deadlocked. The Indonesian delegations took the view that Indonesia should comprise the entire territory of Dutch East Indies. The Dutch refused to compromise, claiming Western New Guinea had no ethnic ties with the rest of the archipelago Despite Dutch public opinion supporting transfer of Western New Guinea to Indonesia, the Dutch cabinet was worried it would not be able to ratify the Round Table Agreement in parliament if it conceded this point. Finally, in the early hours of 1 November 1949 a compromise was reached: the status of Western New Guinea would be determined through negotiations between the United States of Indonesia and the Netherlands within a year of the transfer of sovereignty.
The Conference was officially closed in the Dutch parliament building
on 2 November 1949. Sovereignty was transferred to the United States of Indonesia on 27 December 1949.
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
from August 23 - November 2, 1949, between representatives of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, the Republic of Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and the BFO (Federal Consultative Assembly) representing various states the Dutch had created in the Indonesian archipelago. Prior to this conference, three other high level meetings between Netherlands and Indonesia took place; the Linggadjati Agreement
Linggadjati Agreement
The Linggadjati Agreement, also known as the Cheribon Agreement, was a political accord concluded on 15 November 1946 by the Dutch administration and the unilaterally declared Republic of Indonesia. Negotiations took place 11–12 November...
(1947), the Renville Agreement
Renville Agreement
The Renville Agreement was a United Nations Security Council brokered political accord between the Netherlands who were seeking to re-establish their colony in South East Asia, and Indonesian Republicans seeking to secure Indonesian independence during the Indonesian National Revolution...
(1948), and the Roem-van Roijen Agreement
Roem-van Roijen Agreement
The Roem – van Roijen Agreement was an agreement made between Indonesia and the Netherlands on 7 May 1949. The name being derived between the two principal negotiators at the meeting; Mohammad Roem and Jan Herman van Roijen...
(1949). The conference ended with the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
agreeing to transfer sovereignty to the United States of Indonesia.
Background
On 28 January 1949, the United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
passed a resolution condemning the recent Dutch military offensive
Operatie Kraai
Operatie Kraai was the code name for a Dutch military offensive against the newly formed Republic of Indonesia in December 1948 - January 1949...
against Republican forces in Indonesia and demanded restoration of Republican government. It also urged the resumption of negotiations to find a peaceful settlement between the two sides
Following the 6 July Roem-van Roijen Agreement
Roem-van Roijen Agreement
The Roem – van Roijen Agreement was an agreement made between Indonesia and the Netherlands on 7 May 1949. The name being derived between the two principal negotiators at the meeting; Mohammad Roem and Jan Herman van Roijen...
, which effectively endorsed the Security Council resolution, Dr. Rum said the Republic of Indonesia, whose leaders were still in exile in Bangka, would participate in the Round Table Conference to speed up handover of sovereignty
Government-in-exile returned to Yogyakarta after 6 months in exile on 6 July 1949. In order to ensure commonality of negotiating position between the Republic and the federal delegates, in the second half of July 1949 and from 31 July – 2 August – Inter-Indonesian Conferences were in Yogyakarta between all component authorities of future United States of Indonesia. The participants agreed on basic principles and framework for the constitution
Following preliminary discussions sponsored by the UN Commission for Indonesia in Jakarta, it was decided the Round Table Conference would be held in the Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
.
The negotiations
They also reached agreement on the withdrawal of Dutch troops "within the shortest possible time". And for the United States of Indonesia to grant "most favored nation status" to the Netherlands. In addition, there would be no discrimination against Dutch nationals or companies and the Republic agreed to take over trade agreements negotiated by the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
. However the two major areas of disagreement were over the debts of the Dutch colonial administration and the status of Western New Guinea
Western New Guinea
West Papua informally refers to the Indonesian western half of the island of New Guinea and other smaller islands to its west. The region is officially administered as two provinces: Papua and West Papua. The eastern half of New Guinea is Papua New Guinea.The population of approximately 3 million...
.
Negotiations over the internal and external debts of the Dutch East Indies colonial administration were protracted, with each side presenting their own calculations and arguing over whether the United States of Indonesia should be responsible for debts incurred by the Dutch after their surrender to the Japanese
Japanese Occupation of Indonesia
The Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
in 1942. In particular the Indonesian delegations were indignant at having to cover what it saw as the costs of Dutch military action against it. Finally, thanks to the intervention of the US member of the UN Commission on Indonesia, the Indonesian side came to realize that agreeing to pay part of the Dutch debt would be the price they would have to pay for the transfer of sovereignty. On October 24, the Indonesian delegations agreed that Indonesian would take over approximately 4.3 billion Guilders of Dutch East Indies government debt.
The Conference was officially closed in the Dutch parliament building
Ridderzaal
The Ridderzaal is the main building at the Binnenhof in The Hague, Netherlands, which is used for the state opening of Parliament on the third Tuesday in September, Prinsjesdag, when the Dutch monarch drives to Parliament in the Golden Carriage and delivers the speech from the throne...
on 2 November 1949. Sovereignty was transferred to the United States of Indonesia on 27 December 1949.
- The Kingdom of the Netherlands unconditionally and irrevocably transfers complete sovereignty over Indonesia to the Republic of the United States of Indonesia, and thus recognizes the Republic of the United States of Indonesia as an independent and sovereign Nation.
- The Republic of the United States of Indonesia accepts this sovereignty based on the provisions of its Constitution; the Kingdom of the Netherlands has been notified of this proposed constitution.
—Charter of transfer of sovereignty.