Donald Cowie advocated Netherlands joining a Pacific defence act according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad No. 4 dated April 1940

An item referred to an article of Donald Cowie published in the Pacific Affairs dated September 1939 who pointed out the necessity for the Netherlands to join a Pacific defence pact. He acknowledged that the Netherlands would thinks that such pact was contrary to their Europe neutrality policy.(1) But the vulnerability of the extended and prosperous Dutch East Indies should no be forgotten. Joining such a pact would assure an automatically protection of our Asian possessions.(2)

Notes
1. The Netherlands were despite their neutrality invaded by German forces on 10 May 1940 and was forced to capitulate within days.
2. On 8 December 1941 the Netherlands declared war on Japan when Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbour. The United Kingdom, Australia, USA and the Netherlands created the so-called American-British-Dutch-Australian Command active since 15 January to coordinate the naval and army forces. The war went however disastrous for the allied forces. In the battle of the Java Sea on 27 February 1942 and the following night and day was the Combined Striking Force commanded by the Dutch rear admiral Karel Doorman destroyed, On 8 March 1942 Dutch forces in the Dutch East Indies capitulated to Japan.