The message to Soerio (Mansergh's ultimatum to Surabaya)
Groot Arnhem report (10 Nov 1945) on General Mansergh's ultimatum to Indonesian forces in Surabaya, demanding surrender of arms and leaders by 6 a.m., and permitting Indonesian women and children to leave the city on 9 November. Notes a communist spokesman among four leaders who broadcast defiance. Background to the Ba
The Indonesian parliament and Linggadjati: strengthened left wing supports Sjahrir cabinet
Long article in the Dutch communist daily De Waarheid (15 Jan 1947) by its "Indonesian collaborator" assessing support for the Linggarjati draft in the Indonesian provisional parliament: Masjumi and PNI divided or opposed, while the PKI, Partai Sosialis, Pesindo, Christian parties, Partai Buruh, Perwari and BTI back it
Criticism by Indonesian parliament of the Linggadjati accord
De Noord-Ooster report (4 Mar 1947) on the Indonesian parliament's debate on the Linggadjati accord, with a delegate of "the Indonesian women's organisation" opposing talks with the Dutch, PNI criticism of the cabinet, and comment on van Mook, Sukarno and Sjahrir. The women's delegate is not named reliably; Gerwani did
Yesterday's day...
Nieuwe Vlaardingsche Courant, 5 March 1947: Dutch commentary column on the Indies and Palestine. In one line, 'the Indonesian women's organisation' at talks in Malang is said to consider cooperation with the Dutch impossible after Linggadjati. The organisation is not named and cannot be identified as Gerwis (founded 19
Labour affairs
Nieuwe Courant, 7 July 1947, p. 2: S.K. Trimurti, Minister of Labour in the Republican government, tells Antara the labour organisation must be strengthened and led to the national fighting front, notes production shortages from Dutch and Japanese destruction, and says wages must consider total consumption and availabl
Dutch purge action in South Celebes
De Heerenveensche Koerier, 8 July 1947, summarising a Vrij Nederland exposé on the Dutch 'purge' in South Sulawesi (Dec 1946-Mar 1947), with sworn statements and over 20,000 reported dead. It quotes a letter from the women of Makassar protesting the soldiers' methods, signed on behalf of a women's social association by
International Women's Day 1948: the courage of women
De Waarheid (8 Mar 1948) International Women's Day piece celebrating women's courage under occupation and capitalism, citing the WIDF appeal for peace, democracy and social justice. It voices Dutch women's demand that their sons be brought back from Indonesia. Concerns the Dutch communist women's movement; no Indonesia
International women's exhibition in Paris with Dutch stand on Indonesia
De Waarheid report (9 Jul 1948) on the WIDF international women's exhibition in Paris (12 Jun-18 Jul, 42 countries). The Dutch Women's Movement stand had a section on Indonesia, opposing colonial war; the article contrasts Western capitalism with Eastern Europe, China and the USSR. No Indonesian women's group is named.
Great success in Paris for Indonesians at WIDF exhibition events
De Waarheid report (24 Jul 1948) on a Perhimpunan Indonesia group of Indonesian workers and students performing dances and songs in Paris and Saint-Denis at WIDF invitation during its women's exhibition. An Indonesian woman greeted French women; the piece notes Kowani is a WIDF member. No Gerwis/Gerwani and no named In
Republicans want to relieve Madiun
Deventer Dagblad front-page roundup (22 Sep 1948) on the Madiun affair: republican forces prepare to retake Madiun, communist leaders of the FDR are arrested in Magelang, curfews in Kediri, Solo calmed, fighting organisations disarmed, and a 'social revolution' purge in Sumatra. Mentions Colonel Djokosoejono as communi
Sukarno and Hatta servants of Japan and America (Musso on Radio Gelora Pemuda)
Het Dagblad (Batavia) item (22 Sep 1948, p.2) quoting Musso's radio speech from communist-held 'Radio Gelora Pemuda' after the Madiun coup: the revolution is under national-communist leadership against imperialism, Sukarno and Hatta are called 'servants of Japan and America', and he says more than twenty million Indone
Radio war in the republic (Madiun, September 1948)
Indische Courant voor Nederland (29 Sep 1948, p.3) 'Radio war in the republic': Musso, Colonel Djokosoejono and Suripno speak on communist-held Radio Gelora Pemuda after the Madiun takeover, attacking Sukarno and Hatta as capitulationists and 'servants of Japan and America'. Musso says over twenty million women were wi
Women like you all: introducing the WIDF to Dutch readers
De Waarheid piece (1 Oct 1948) presenting the 80-million-member WIDF to Dutch readers as ordinary women including those in Indonesia, and quoting its appeal to women to demand arms reduction and ban atomic weapons. Indonesia appears only in a list of countries.
Republican deliberations (arrest of Francisca Fanggidaej after Madiun)
Het Dagblad (Batavia) report (4 Dec 1948, p.1) on republican cabinet deliberations and arrests of communists after Madiun. It reports Francisca Fanggidaej, once delegated to Prague by the BKPRI, was captured with Colonel Djokosoejono and Politburo member Sardjono, and, per her statement, that 23 women were with Amir Sj
No measures against Tan Malaka's group (arrests after Madiun)
Indische Courant voor Nederland (11 Dec 1948, p.2): Republican officials deny measures against Tan Malaka's Gerakan Revolusi Rakjat, though Ibnu Parna was arrested. It details arrests of communist leaders: Colonel Djokosoejono, PKI politburo's Sardjono and Francisca Fanggidaej (once delegated to Prague by the BKPRI); p
Women's congress in Budapest made a mighty vow to the world
De Waarheid report (29 Dec 1948) on the second WIDF congress in Budapest (1-6 Dec, 600+ women, 54 countries), framed as a Soviet-led peace front against "Anglo-American imperialism". Dutch Labour women are chided over the colonial war in Indonesia; Indonesian women are not among the delegates named.
The international women's congress in Budapest: Dutch delegates and manifesto
De Waarheid report (4 Jan 1949) on Dutch delegates Annie Gelok and Mien Bosch at the second WIDF congress, with the full manifesto. Gelok said the Dutch Women's Movement alone sided with the Indonesian people and demanded troop withdrawal; the paper notes Indonesia's WIDF-affiliated women's organisation was absent beca
70 million workers and 80 million women protest against colonial war
De Waarheid report (6 Jan 1949) on international protests against the Dutch "Christmas" military action in Indonesia: the WFTU statement, and the WIDF telegram and letter to the Security Council on behalf of 80 million women including its Indonesian and Dutch affiliates. Also covers Security Council scheduling and Mini
Women, demonstrate on Tuesday for peace: International Women's Day call 1949
De Waarheid call (5 Mar 1949) for Dutch women to demonstrate on International Women's Day for peace: against the colonial war in Indonesia, the Marshall Plan and Atlantic Pact, for troop withdrawal and equal pay, with Soviet women held up as models and WIDF president Cotton quoted. Concerns Dutch communist women; no In
318 delegates could not come: World Peace Congress opens in Paris
De Waarheid report (20 Apr 1949) on the opening of the World Peace Congress in Paris, where Joliot-Curie greeted delegations from China, Spain, Greece, Vietnam and Indonesia, protested French refusal of 380 visas and noted women's role in peace. WIDF chair Cotton sat on the platform. No Indonesian delegate or Gerwis/Ge
Of and about others: column against den Doolaard on colonial atrocities
Short De Waarheid column (21 Apr 1949) attacking writer A. den Doolaard for a De Linie piece on maltreatment of imprisoned Dutch collaborators, contrasting it with alleged Dutch crimes in Indonesia, including mass killings of women and children. No Gerwani content; background to Dutch colonial-war propaganda.
Heavy battle in Sumatra; speeches at Paris World Peace Congress
De Waarheid page (25 Apr 1949) with a report on fighting in Sumatra (Dutch landing at Indrapura, Republican scorched-earth) plus speeches from the Paris World Peace Congress. WIDF chair Eugénie Cotton says millions of women are fighting in China, Greece, Indonesia and Spain. No Indonesian women are named.
Communist Blueprint for Asia (Western Mail, 18 August 1949)
Western Mail (Perth), 18 August 1949, p. 10, Denis Warner's anti-communist article 'Communist Blueprint for Asia'. It claims the February 1948 Calcutta Southeast Asia Youth and Students' Conference carried Moscow's instructions for revolt to Australia, Malaya, Burma, Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam. Indonesia's dele
Communist Blueprint For Asia (Western Mail, 18 August 1949), reprint
Western Mail (Perth), 18 Aug 1949, reprint of Denis Warner's article presenting the Feb 1948 Calcutta youth conference as a Moscow-directed 'blueprint' for Asian revolution. Indonesian delegate Francisca Fanggidaej is listed among the 'guests'; Warner says there is little to show 'his' politics and doubts Indonesian in
The power of the peace camp: map legend with Indonesia entry
De Waarheid explanatory legend (8 Oct 1949) to a world map of the "peace camp", listing country-by-country assessments. Indonesia is described as "mass struggle in all parts of the Archipelago for the definitive national liberation"; a table gives WIDF membership as 80 million. No Gerwani content.
Indonesian minorities protest (with report on the Masamba band)
Deventer Dagblad front page (7 Nov 1949): a report of a 1,000-strong Amsterdam meeting 'Indonesian minorities accuse', protesting the forced incorporation of eastern Indonesian peoples into the RIS, joined by a fragment on the Masamba gang case. It repeats that the band appears to have been led by Makassar councillor S
Indonesian delegate: victory in China inspiring (Lillah Suripno)
De Waarheid item (10 Feb 1950) quoting Indonesian delegate Lillah Suripno at the Asian Women's Conference in Peking: guerrillas fight oppressors, Indonesian women's task is a free democratic state, the Chinese revolution is an example, and victory needs a democratic front under the Communist Party. Photo shows her besi
WIDF president Eugenie Cotton accused over anti-war poster
Short De Waarheid item (2 Jun 1950): WIDF president Eugénie Cotton, also head of the Union of French Women, was accused over a poster urging French mothers not to let under-age sons enlist for Vietnam; the paper compares it to Dutch women's action against the Indonesian war and calls for protest letters. No Indonesian
Sakirman motion on Vietnam
Java-Bode, 3 Jun 1950, p. 1: partial report of the RIS parliament debate on Sakirman's motion to recognise Ho Chi Minh's government. Mrs Mudigdo (labelled PSI) says Vietnam's victory is Indonesia's and loan conditions must not bind foreign policy; Werdojo and Mustapha speak similarly.
Recognition of the Vietminh in the RIS parliament
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 10 Jun 1950, p. 1: report of the RIS parliament debate on Sakirman's motion to recognise Ho Chi Minh's Vietnam. Mrs Mudigdo (then PSI) speaks in favour, saying Vietnam's victory is Indonesia's and loan conditions must not constrain foreign policy; Hatta replies government will not recog