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.
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
CIA report, 6 April 1950, claiming Aidit and Trimurti visited Ho Chi Minh and would return as his 'agents' to build a people's army in Indonesia. Almost certainly unreliable but links future Gerwis founder S.K. Trimurti to alleged transnational conspiracy.
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.
CIA information report, 14 April 1950: 'Communist Developments in Indonesia', on the PKI, FDR and Partai Murba after the 1948 Madiun revolt, their alliance, infiltration of labour and army, and factions. Tan Ling Djie, Abdul Madjid, Sakirman and Wikana are named; Umi Sardjono appears only as head of one Partai Buruh In
De Locomotief, 14 Aug 1950 (Aneta): about 5,000 attend a Medan peace-committee rally, mainly plantation, peasant and pedicab unions, with anti-American banners. Speakers include Tuti Rukmi for 'Indonesian women'. The resolution urges Indonesia not to join the 'imperialist war' in Korea and calls for a ban on atomic wea
CIA report, 30 April 1951, on 'Women Communists in Indonesia': Chinese and Indonesian women's links, the Stockholm peace appeal, and Gerwis chair 'Sri Mangunsarkoro' protesting France's ban on the WIDF. Early foreign surveillance of Gerwis's WIDF ties.
CIA report, 26 February 1951, on alleged communist-directed strike sabotage in Indonesia via SOBSI and WFTU. Gerwani-relevant only for naming a batik workers' union organised by Mrs Trimurti.
'News in brief' column, Provinciale Overijsselsche en Zwolsche Courant (14 Mar 1952). The only Indonesia item says Eleanor Roosevelt will reach Jakarta on 25 March, be received by Sukarno on 26 March and address the congress of an Indonesian women's movement (not named). Context for the Gerwis letter to Roosevelt.
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 30 Apr 1952, p. 2: report on Kartini Day commemorations in Jakarta, Bandung, The Hague and the US. At a packed Garden Hall meeting in Jakarta organised by women's and girls' associations including Gerwis and PPI, the audience sang the Kartini song and observed a minute's silence.
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1952-05-19, p. 2): Eleanor Roosevelt replied to a letter Gerwis gave her in Jakarta in April, rejecting its claim that UN forces used bacteriological weapons in Korea, denying that the UN suppresses peoples' freedom, and disputing its account of Palestinian Arab displacement. Shows Gerwis's Co
De Nieuwsgier, 19 May 1952: Eleanor Roosevelt, replying to a Gerwis letter handed to her in Jakarta in late April, rejects its allegations of UN bacteriological warfare in Korea and suppression of a people's freedom, and the claim that the West drove a million Arabs from their homes. Third press version of this exchang
Aneta item in De Vrije Pers (19 May 1952): Eleanor Roosevelt replied to a memorandum Gerwis gave her during her April visit to Jakarta, rejecting its accusation that the UN used bacteriological weapons in Korea, denying UN oppression of peoples, and disputing its claim that a million Arabs were driven out of Israel.
Short item, Java-Bode, 19 May 1952, p. 1: Eleanor Roosevelt replies to Gerwis's letter delivered during her April Jakarta visit, rejecting its claim that the UN used bacteriological weapons in Korea while admitting a fight against communist-influenced organisations. Shorter version of the Indische Courant item.
De Locomotief, 20 May 1952: severely garbled OCR of the report on Eleanor Roosevelt's reply to the Gerwis letter delivered during her Jakarta visit, rejecting claims that the US used bacteriological weapons in Korea and addressing Arab refugee allegations. Companion to the Arnhemsche Courant item of 27 May 1952; fragme
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 24 May 1952, p. 3: Eleanor Roosevelt replies to a letter delivered by Gerwis during her Jakarta visit, rejecting its claims that the UN used bacteriological weapons in Korea and that Western powers drove Arabs from Palestine, while acknowledging a fight against communist-influenced orga
Arnhemsche Courant, 27 May 1952: a short item reports Eleanor Roosevelt's reply, during her Jakarta visit, to a letter from Gerwis. She rejected its claims that the UN used bacteriological weapons in Korea and suppressed peoples, and denied the US drove a million Arabs from their homes. Shows Gerwis's Cold War peace st
Short Nijmeegsch Dagblad item (27 May 1952): Eleanor Roosevelt, during a visit to Jakarta, replies to a letter from Gerwis, rejecting its claim that the UN used bacteriological weapons in Korea and that the UN suppressed peoples' freedom. She admits a struggle against communist-influenced organisations. Evidence of Ger
Trouw (27 May 1952): Eleanor Roosevelt, visiting Jakarta, answers a letter from Gerwis, rejecting its claims that the UN used germ weapons in Korea or suppressed peoples' freedom, and rejecting claims about expelled Arabs. She admits a fight against communist-influenced organisations. Shows Gerwis's peace and anti-impe
De Nieuwsgier, 27 June 1952 (Sin Po): on the Korean War anniversary, a nine-organisation delegation including Gerwis, SOBSI, Pemuda Rakjat, Lekra and the peace committee protests at the US embassy against alleged bacteriological warfare, but is turned away. They write to the foreign minister asking Indonesia to press f
CIA report, 23 February 1953, on a PKI Surabaya sub-section committees' meeting (Dec 1952) with directives on discipline, cadres and election preparation, including 'more support' for Gerwis. Shows Gerwis treated as a PKI-supported front.
US State Department Office of Intelligence Research report IR-6165, 'Communism in the Free World' (January 1953), a compilation of about 30 country studies of communist capabilities, held in the CIA reading room. The Indonesia study (IR-6165.3) covers PKI aims and tactics, labour, and front organisations. Section VI.A
Short Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra item (10 Jun 1953, p.2): the Indonesian women's movement Gerwis, with 40,000 members, sent a telegram to President Eisenhower urging him to spare the Rosenbergs; the dockworkers' union SBPP (47,000 members) decided on 8 June to send a similar telegram. Shows Gerwis's anti-imperialist s
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra news-in-brief column 'De kleine wereld' (3 Jul 1953, p.4). Among items on a pharmacy strike, a journalist's film censored, a Guatemala explosion and Dusseldorf baby names, one notes that the Indonesian women's movement GERWIS urged the US government, via its Jakarta embassy, to guarantee the
Local news column, Indische Courant voor Nederland, 15 Jul 1953, p. 3. Only relevant item: Gerwis urged the American government, via the US embassy in Jakarta, to guarantee the welfare of the two Rosenberg children. Other items concern a lost copra boat and Mount Sumbing.
CIA information report, 6 Nov 1953: 'Financial Problems of Communist Front Organizations' (Indonesia). Reports that the World Peace Committee sought Rp 50,000 from a Chinese organisation and that GERWIS has not paid its monthly Rp 2,500 to SOBSI since January 1953 and has also asked for aid. One page; a single paragrap
CIA report, 6 May 1954: Trimurti and Dr Thung Sin Nio collecting funds to finance the Gerwis (now Gerwani) congress in Jakarta, 25-31 March 1954, including from Chinese-Indonesian donors. Evidence on congress financing and cross-community support.
CIA weekly 'Recent Communist Conciliatory Gestures...' (9 Aug 1954), a long chronology of Soviet-bloc exchanges. The only Gerwani item (p.24, 1 August 1954) says the Indonesian women's organisation GERWANI, labelled Communist-front, was reported planning to send ten women on a three-week tour of the USSR, reciprocating
Tribune (Sydney), 13 Oct 1954, p. 11: letters page covering SEATO, Eisenhower, Pakistan, housing and criticisms of Tribune. One letter claims Indonesia, India, Ceylon and Burma's abstention from SEATO shows Asian peoples want peace and independence; another praises the Union of Australian Women journal 'Our Women'. No
Java-Bode, 12 March 1956, p. 1: report on US Secretary of State John Foster Dulles's arrival at Kemajoran airport, Jakarta. Demonstrators shouted 'Abolish SEATO' and a 25-year-old woman, Samsia, a member of Gerwani (called communist-minded), threw a red pamphlet into his car and was detained by police.