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
Short news Indonesia
Nieuwe Courant, 17 September 1948, p. ?: column of short Indonesia and foreign news (KNIL command changes, Pasundan premier travelling, execution of two TNI and BPRI 'terrorists' who used kampong women as cover in attacks near Salatiga, pilgrim ship, French strike, Huks). No Gerwani or women's movement content.
Musso on the coup in the republic
Bredasche Courant, 21 Sept 1948: Madiun-affair report quoting Musso's radio speech that the revolution is under national-communist leadership, claiming 20 million Indonesian women were widowed by romusha labour and calling Sukarno and Hatta servants of Japan and America. Also reports refugees fleeing to Dutch lines. Ge
The coup in the Republic: opinions of Gen. Spoor and Sjahrir
Overijsselsch Dagblad (21 Sep 1948) on the Madiun communist uprising: Gen. Spoor fears communist spill-over into Dutch-held areas, Sjahrir comments on discontent, KNIP grants Sukarno special powers, and Musso broadcasts that 20 million women were widowed by romusha. No Gerwani or Gerwis mention; context for the later a
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
The coup in Madiun: 'purge action against reactionaries'
Nieuwe Courant, 22 September 1948: Antara reports on the Madiun events: Murba's correspondent describes the 12 September communist takeover, Musso's radio speech (claiming millions of women became widows through Japanese romusha), Suripno calling it a 'purge action', and Col. Djokosujono's claim of a clean-up of reacti
Censorship in Yogyakarta; huge smuggling affair
Nieuwe Provinciale Groninger Courant, 22 September 1948, p. 2: wire items from the Madiun crisis (censorship and bans in Yogyakarta, Amir Sjarifuddin leaving Madiun, executions of two TNI/BPRI raiders who used kampong women as shields), a court-martial for thefts at Tanjung Priok, and a South Sulawesi-Singapore smuggli
The Republic purges Sumatra: numerous arrests
Eindhovensch Dagblad report (24 Sep 1948, p.5) on republican purge arrests of military officers in Tapanuli, Sumatra (Padang Sidempuan, Sibolga, Tarutung), with a second Aneta account that communist laskars effectively control the area. Also reports two executed 'terrorists' who used village women as cover in July raid
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.
Latest news: Committee of Good Offices, Madiun arrests, women drowned
De Maasbode, 7 Dec 1948: 'Latest news' column covering the Committee of Good Offices, Dr Beel in Madura, Hatta's stand on the army, and about 3,000 arrests after the Madiun revolt. A brief item reports seven Indonesian women drowned when a prau capsized near Teluknaga. Gerwani/Gerwis and Soetanti Aidit are not mentione
Short reports
Dutch newspaper column of short news items (Aaltensche Courant, 1948-12-10, p. 2) on mostly Dutch and European matters. Only one line concerns Indonesia: a prahu with seven Indonesian women capsized in the Tjidadane river near Teloeknaga and all drowned. No Gerwis/Gerwani content; matched only by a topic search.
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.
CIA information report, 19 July 1949: Dunia Wanita
CIA information report, 19 July 1949, saying Ani Idrus, labelled a pro-Republican Communist from Medan, would publish the fortnightly Dunia Wanita. Early sign of US intelligence watching women's press; the Communist label is probably a misclassification.
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
CIA information report, April 1949: The WIDF in the Far East
CIA information report, April 1949 (catalogued 18 April): 'The WIDF in the Far East'. Lists delegates at the WIDF Council's first session (Paris, Feb 1947) and traces WIDF contacts in China, Malaya, Hong Kong and Singapore, a proposed 1948 fact-finding commission on women in India, Indonesia and elsewhere, and plans af
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.
Singapore Free Press, 31 Aug 1949: blueprint for revolution in a Soviet attache case (Denis Warner)
Singapore Free Press, 31 Aug 1949, by Denis Warner (lead only). Cold-war feature claiming Soviet-supplied blueprints for revolution in Australia, Malaya, the Philippines and Korea. Matched on Francisca Fanggidaej; the lead has no Indonesian women's content.
Revision of the KNIP
De Locomotief, 12 Sept 1949 (Aneta): PNI's Sartono says the KNIP and its Working Committee are being reorganised, and lists organisations seeking seats, including the Partai Wanita Rakyat, Perwari and the Partai Wanita Kristen Indonesia. Gerwis is not named; context on women's organisations' political representation 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.
National Conference of the Dutch Women's Movement in Amsterdam
De Waarheid notice (28 Oct 1949) of the national conference of the Dutch Women's Movement in Amsterdam, chaired by Rie Lips-Odinot, with news of the WIDF Council meeting in Peking and a talk by "an Indonesian woman fighter". Culture morning with peace films and choir.
Our Strength: column on the WIDF Council in Moscow
De Waarheid column "Our Strength" by L.B. (25 Nov 1949) on the WIDF Council meeting in Moscow (15-20 Nov) and the 1948 Budapest congress, reflecting on women's unity and the daily struggle of a Dutch communist housewife. Indonesia appears only in a list of women's liberation struggles.
Asian trade union conference ended in Peking
Short De Waarheid report (5 Dec 1949) on the close of the Asian trade-union conference in Peking, with resolutions and an appeal to Western workers including the Netherlands; WIDF spoke through Simone Bertrand, and gifts from Indonesia, Korea and Burma were presented. No Indonesian women named.
First time in Peking: exhibition on the life of women in Asia
Short De Waarheid report (9 Dec 1949) on the exhibition on the life and struggle of Asian women and workers opened in Peking for the WIDF Asian Women's Conference, with material from the USSR, Mongolia, China, Korea, Vietnam, India, Indonesia and Iran. Speakers Li Dequan and Vaillant-Couturier stressed solidarity and n
CIA report, 6 April 1950: Persatuan Wanita Republik Indonesia, Jakarta
CIA report, 6 April 1950, listing the Jakarta council of Perwari and labelling the group 'extreme right'. Context on Gerwis/Gerwani's main rival and sometime partner, and on the instability of US intelligence categories.