Nationalism in Netherlands East India

Abstract

THE political and social upheavals in Asia have attracted an avid world interest. For some strange reason this interest does not extend to Dutch East Indies to nearly same degree that it does to most of other Asiatic counries. Japan, China, Philippines and India have long been objects of keen interest, and much has been and is still being written about them, but, outside of Holland and restricted circles in other countries, Dutch East Indies have received scant attention and little is known about them. In popular mind Dutch East Indies calls up a picture of jungles and wild natives. In more enlightened circles there still lingers an impression of Dutch colonial policy and administration which is best described by expressionkeep native's belly full and his head empty. This general popular impression has been somewhat modified in recent years by reports which hundreds of tourists now yearly attracted to Bali, the jewel of East, have brought back with them. But at best boatloads of tourists who stop at East Indian ports for a day or two are able to acquire only a vague and superficial impression of this marvelous insular empire. This general failure to realize importance of Dutch East Indies in world politics is indeed strange, for their population, resources and production make them a very important factor in world economy. The natives of islands needed only a political and social awakening to make East Indies one of great potential powers of Orient, and this awakening has arrived. Nationalism has spread to East Indies, too, and, as if to make up for its belated appearance, has taken root with added intensity. The