What this lesson teaches
I can weigh up how the returning European powers responded to demands for independence, by force or by talks.
Syllabus K330, Decolonisation and establishment of newly independent nations in Southeast Asia, Learning Outcomes. Assess the responses by the European powers to Southeast Asia's struggle for independence.
Make a guess
The Dutch and the Republic signed agreements in 1946 and 1948, yet fighting continued. Why do you think the deals did not hold?
- The UN ordered both sides to tear up the agreements.
- They still disagreed about who would hold power in the federation.
- Neither side meant to keep the deals they had signed.
Show the answer
They still disagreed about who would hold power in the federation.
The Dutch wanted to keep influence, and the Republic feared Dutch-backed states would weaken it. Each deal left this unsettled.
Agreements gave the Republic a seat at the table, but fighting went on because the two sides still disagreed about power.
The Linggadjati agreement of 1946 to 1947 recognised the Republic's de facto authority in Java, Madura and Sumatra. De facto means the power it actually held in practice, not full sovereignty over all of Indonesia. Madura is an island next to Java.
The plan was for the Republic and other states to join a federal United States of Indonesia, linked to the Netherlands. A federation has a national government, while its member states keep some powers.
But who would hold power in the federation was disputed. The Dutch wanted to keep influence. Republican leaders feared that Dutch-backed states would weaken the Republic. So recognition was a real gain, but agreeing a framework did not settle how independent or powerful the Republic would be.
After the 1947 Dutch attack, the Renville agreement of January 1948 set up a ceasefire, a halt to fighting, and more talks. Republican troops had to leave pockets behind Dutch lines, weakening the Republic's hold on territory. United Nations mediation, help from an outside body to reach agreement, kept talks going.
Neither agreement ended the war. Military gains changed each side's bargaining power, while broken agreements and new Dutch attacks turned world opinion against the Netherlands.
- Linggadjati, 1946-1947
- Recognises Republic's control of Java, Madura and Sumatra.
- Renville, January 1948
- Ceasefire; Republican troops withdraw from Dutch-held areas.
- UN
- Acted as mediator to keep talks going.
Worked example: A gain in recognition, a fight over power
At Linggadjati, the Republic is recognised in three islands and agrees to work towards a federation.
- Gain: the Dutch accept the Republic runs these islands.
- Problem: the two sides disagree about who holds power in the federation.
- Result: fighting starts again in 1947.
Watch out for this
Failed agreements did nothing to help independence.
Even broken deals gave the Republic recognition and kept talks open. Dutch attacks after them also turned world opinion against the Netherlands.
Check your understanding
What did the Linggadjati agreement give the Republic?
- Independence for the Republic over the whole archipelago.
- A lasting end to the fighting between the two sides.
- Recognition that it ran Java, Madura and Sumatra in practice.
Show the answer
Recognition that it ran Java, Madura and Sumatra in practice.
Yes. It was a real gain, even though the deal later broke down.