Situation in the Indies: Mansergh demands weapons be laid down
Nijmeegsch Dagblad front-page report (10 Nov 1945) on Gen. Mansergh's ultimatum to the Surabaya authorities to disarm, plus the situation in Java and Pontianak. A communist party spokesman is among Indonesians broadcasting appeals not to surrender weapons. No Gerwani or women's organisation content beyond permission fo
Ultimatum of Major-General Mansergh
Ons Noorden (10 Nov 1945), Reuter/Aneta report on Maj.-Gen. Mansergh's ultimatum to Surabaya's governor Suryo to disarm, with a communist party spokesman among those broadcasting appeals not to surrender weapons. Women and children may leave the city by 9 Nov. Background to the Battle of Surabaya; no Gerwani content.
Ultimatum of Major-General Mansergh
Ons Noorden (10 Nov 1945), Reuter/Aneta report on Maj.-Gen. Mansergh's ultimatum to Surabaya's governor Suryo to disarm, with a communist party spokesman among those broadcasting appeals not to surrender weapons. Women and children may leave the city by 9 Nov. Background to the Battle of Surabaya; no Gerwani content.
Sjahrir seeks contact with Sukarno: chaotic situation in Bantam
Trouw (20 Feb 1946): Sjahrir leaves for Yogyakarta to confer with Sukarno, possibly widening communist and Islamic representation; reports looting in Batavia and chaos in Bantam, where officials were murdered or abducted and young girls taken. No Gerwani content.
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
Balance sheet of Indonesian political parties
Nieuw Utrechtsch Dagblad, 17 January 1947, p. 2: list drawn up by the Republican paper De Patriot of Indonesian groups for and against the Linggadjati draft agreement. Perwari, PKI, Sobsi, BTI and the Partai Sosialis are listed for; Masjumi, PNI and Partai Wanita Rakjat against. Gerwani/Gerwis (founded later) does not
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
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
Loose and fast from the Republic
De Locomotief, 13 May 1948: satirical column by an 'Indonesian collaborator' on life in the Republic. It says former Minister of Labour S.K. Trimurti, after the fall of the Amir cabinet, is 'a wiser but sadder woman' who no longer speaks publicly, and that Republican women were reluctant to speak at meetings. Hostile,
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
Irony in the RIS parliament
Trouw (25 Feb 1950), ANP report on the first session of the RIS parliament: ironic laughter from republican members at Dutch congratulatory telegrams, cautious talk of inter-parliamentary cooperation. Mrs Mudigdo (listed as Partai Sosialis member, not seated as such) says she would like to meet Dutch women MPs, seconde
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
Last phase of parliament: the constitution
De Locomotief, 25 July 1950: report on the last phase of the RIS parliament, opened by Sartono, and the draft unitary constitution. Mrs Moedigdio (Mudigdio) of the Socialist Party is one of the members who say parliament must keep the right of amendment. Text is partly garbled; no Gerwis reference.
It began in Paris: five years of the WIDF
De Waarheid retrospective (14 Dec 1950) on five years of the WIDF, founded in Paris in Dec 1945, describing its heroines and growth to 91 million members in 59 countries, the 1946 founding of the Dutch Women's Movement, the 1949 Asian women's conference in Peking and the Stockholm Appeal. Indonesian women are only name
Businesses and meetings: motions and protests against WIDF and WFTU ban
De Waarheid (Dutch Communist daily), 1 Feb 1951, p. 1: report on motions sent to Queen Juliana by workers' groups and the Nederlandse Vrouwen Beweging (NVB) Rotterdam, demanding amnesty for Piet van Staveren and other Indonesia-conscientious objectors, and a peace government. NVB Rotterdam also protested to the French