History12 - Australia's Engagement with Asia 1945-2001: Indonesia

In this radio broadcast from 1945, the first Premier of the Indonesian Republic, Sutan Sjahrir speaks to the people of Australia, claiming as friends to his fledgling nation the Australian workers who refused to load the Dutch ships. Promising close political and economic ties between neighbours, Sjahrir also refers to the recent experience of the war in the Pacific and the Australian success in repelling the Japanese in the name of freedom. Sjahrir promises that in future conflicts, an independent Indonesia will help defend Australia's freedom.

On 17 August 1945, two days after Japan’s surrender in the Pacific War, Indonesia’s nationalist leaders, Sukarno and Mohammed Hatta, proclaimed the independence of Indonesia. Previously known as the Netherlands East Indies, Indonesia had been under Dutch rule for about 350 years. The Japanese had invaded and occupied the archipelago since 1942.

In late 1945 the first prime minister of Indonesia, Sutan Sjahrir (1909-66), made a radio broadcast to the people of Australia, thanking them for their support at the onset of Indonesia’s struggle for freedom from the returning Dutch forces.

Between 1941 and 1945 Australia took the first decisive steps towards a more independent world view, moving away from total reliance on Britain for its foreign policy and defence. After the Pacific war Australians were only too aware of the extent to which their future security would depend on the direction of developments in south-east Asia and of the importance of continuing involvement by Britain and the United States.

For a slightly different perspective:
Indonesian independence was a serious challenge for Australian imperialism. Australia finds itself inextricably part of a global imperialist system, that is, a system of generalised competition between major states, in which economic and strategic aspects are mutually dependent but irreducible. Australia is a middle ranking power within this system.