The Dutch Naval Bill according to the Dutch newspaper Het Vaderland morning edition dated 4 November 1924

Weltrevreden, Batavia {Djakarta], Dutch East Indies 3 November. In the Volksraad (1) in the Dutch East Indies were the opponents of the Vlootwet divided in two camps, one camp which was fundamentally opposed the bill while the other camp regarded the bill as insufficient! To the latter camp belonged mr. Talma (2) who also had doubts dealing with the budget and Van der Weijden. To the first camp belonged Van Helsdingen(4) who desired the opinion of the Volkenbond (2), Van Lonkhuijzen (5) who wanted an air force in stead of a strong navy while Soeroso and Dwidjosewojo feared for an increase of the taxes to be paid by the inland population. Meyer Ranneft (6) wanted to give the naval board carte blanche to used the approved budget as they desire while Ten Berg although not complete satisfied with the contents of the bill intended to vote for approval of the bill.

Notes

1. The Volksraad was installed in 1918 and the 60 members were partly chosen and partly appointed by the colonial government (governor General) but being an advice organ just with limited power.

2. Mr. dr. D. Talma (Wednesday 15 May 1929 Bruxelles, Belgium) who was chairman of the daily board of the syndicate of sugar plants in the Dutch East Indies and representative of the Government.

3. The Volkenbond established on 25 January 1919 based at Geneva and a result of the Treaty of Versailles was a supranational organisation with the intention to stop all wars but in fact had just a limited power although some success was she repealed on 20 April 1946.

4. Mr. Willem Henri van Helsingen (4 March 1888 Ambon, Dutch East Indies-3 November 1985 The Hague, Netherlands), employee at the Volksraad between 1918-1893 except for his European leave in 1921-1922 and 1929-1930 and later chairman between 1935-1939 or more probably in 1924 his brother mr. C.C. van Helsdingen (1882-1959) who was member of the Volksraad in 1924-1942 as chairman of the political party Christelijk Staatkundige Partij (CSP).

5. Dr. Jan Jacobus van Lonkhujzen (7 May 1877 Arnhem, Netherlands-18 January 1965 Eefde, Netherlands) in 1923 director department public health in the Dutch East Indies.

6. Jan Willem Meijer Ranneft (31 October 1887 Magelang, Java, Dutch East Indies-3 February 1968 The Hague, Netherlands) important civilian employee, in 1924 appointed as chairman of the Volksraad of which council he was member between 1924-1928 except for 1926.