 The World's Honored Watch is Laun Jean. Laun Jean watches have won ten World's Fair Grand Prizes, twenty-eight gold medals and more honors for accuracy than any other timepiece. Laun Jean, the world's most honored watch, is made and guaranteed by the Laun Jean Whittenall Watch Company. It's time for the Laun Jean Chronoscope, a television journal of the important issues of the hour, brought to you every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. A presentation of the Laun Jean Whittenall Watch Company, maker of Laun Jean, the world's most honored watch, and Whittenall, distinguished companion to the world-honored Laun Jean. Good evening. This is Frank Knight. May I introduce our co-editors for this edition of the Laun Jean Chronoscope? Mr. William Bradford Huey, editor of the American Mercury, and Mr. Elliot Haynes, an editor of United Nations World. Our distinguished guest for this evening is his excellency, Dr. Ali Sastra Amitjoyo, an Indonesian ambassador to the United States. The opinions expressed are necessarily those of the speakers. Mr. Ambassador, I'm sure that our audience is very glad to see you when I show tonight because you represent the newest nation in the world. A very large and rich nation. Now, sir, will you tell us just something about the Republic of Indonesia? Give us a brief geographic description of your nation. Well, thank you for the words of welcome. Indonesia, as you know, is a new country, and its geographic location is, I might say, a very particular and island nation, and it is situated in the southwest Pacific, and is just located on the crossroad of two very important highways. One from the mainland of Asia, leading to Australia, and the other one is from the north, leading from China, from Japan to the south. And it's an island kingdom. There are many islands. We have approximately 3,000 islands over there. It's an extremely rich country in terms of natural resources. Yes, it is. I think it ranks the third behind the United States and Russia. And how many people do you have, sir? We have approximately 78 millions. How many of those are literate, Mr. Ambassador? About 20%, I think. 20% can read. And they're mainly Muslims, aren't they? Well, yes, most of them, about 85% are Muslims. And do you have any Christians there? We have, and the government, we have cabinet ministers who are Christians. And of course you were formerly a colony of the Dutch, weren't you? We were, yes. You were developed industrially. The industrial development you have was largely the work of the Dutch, wasn't it? Yes. But there wasn't much industrial development under the Dutch, was there? No, there were not. But most of the industry is mostly agricultural industry. Sugar, you know, and tea and coffee. Were you in a very strong position economically when the Dutch left? No, I should say not. Why was that? This is, I think, because of work conditions. And you attained your independence from the Dutch immediately after the Second World War, didn't you? Not immediately. We proclaimed our independence in 1945. And it was finally granted two or three years ago? In 1949, actually, we concluded the so-called Round Table Conference in The Hague. And you are now a completely free and independent nation of 80 million people along these very rich islands. Yes. Now, sir, tonight our people are particularly interested in the relations between our two governments. We Americans are wondering who are our friends and who aren't. Now, is your nation friendly to America now and to Americans? Yes. We have the most friendly relations with your government. Mr. Rather Governor Dewey, after his return from Indonesia on a recent trip, stated that the Indonesians, by and large, did not want to have too much to do with Westerners, including Americans. I think that is not correct. You don't believe that's true? I don't believe that is true. Now, where do you stand in our great struggle with the Soviet Union today? Are you on the side of the West or are you on the side of the Russian power complex? We are not aligning ourselves with either of the controversial camps. Is it fair to call you a neutralist in the great struggle between the West and the East? Let me put it this way. We have formulated our foreign policy as an independent foreign policy. But it does not mean that we have a neutral policy. We claim that our foreign policy is an independent one, but it is an active independent foreign policy. Most of our listeners are familiar with the positions taken by Nehru of India. Now, would you say that your position of your nation in the struggle between Russia and America is the position of your nation approximately that position taken by Mr. Nehru? Yes. It is approximately similar to that. What would the position of your country be, Mr. Ambassador, if China should move aggressively south, say in Malaya? You mean red China? Red China, yes. That is difficult to say no. And of course, we are aware of the changes, eventually changes of that kind. Has your government recognized the government of red China? Yes, we have recognized it. Have you also pressed for admission of red China into the United Nations? Yes. What is your position there? Why do you press for that? Our position is that Indonesia believes that red China, which we recognize, should participate in the normal way of international intercourse through the United Nations. Do you think that if they did participate in that manner that the Cold War would ease off at all? Yes, we believe that. You do believe that. Mr. Ambassador recently, Mr. Bullet, former Ambassador to the Soviet Union, told our audience that today in India he doesn't believe that either American capital or American technicians are welcome. Now, is American capital welcomed in Indonesia today? Well, I do not know very much about India, but as far as Indonesia is concerned, I would like to answer that. Do you think that the American capitalist or the American with some savings can invest it in Indonesia with complete safety today? Yes, I think so. Is there very much investment going on from America into Indonesia? Not yet very much. Recently, the cabinet of Indonesia fell and was replaced by a new one because... Not yet now. ...what was it? Pardon? Not yet replaced. Oh, it hasn't been replaced yet, but it fell because that cabinet seemed to be about to sign an agreement with the American government to administer some technical assistance and so forth. Would you say that that was a move away from cooperation with the United States? I don't believe that it's the right position that way because we have, I think, to wait until a new cabinet has been formed. Well, but immediately after that, during the sixth session of the General Assembly in Paris, it seemed to many observers as if Indonesia was being more negative in regard to America than it had been before that. Well, chronologically, I think it is not quite correct in stating that because the cabinet fell after the session in Paris. Now, Mr. Ambassador, our audience... That is not a consequence or that is not the result of the... Well, the two were linked, I thought. I don't think you don't think so. One of the things that our audience is always interested about from our friends and foreign nations is what do you want from us? Now, are you borrowing money from the United States now? Well, we have cut $100 million loan from the Export-Import Bank to help bolstering up our economy. Oh, you've borrowed $100 million now from the Export-Import Bank and that's to bolster your economy, to bolster your currency, I assume? Well, of course that is in connection with our economy. Currency is not to be separated from the economy that is, I think, a part of it. And of course, you are a great rich country yourself. Yes. Now, what can we Americans expect in return from Indonesia for our loans that have already been made and perhaps additional loans? Well, I think that your interest in Indonesia is to see that in Indonesia as an independent free country and should be kept strong enough to manage its own affairs as a sovereign country. I see. Well now, are you a possible ally of ours and any difficulties that we might have in the future? Well, I stated before that we are in a very friendly terms with you. But not in a military or annoyance sense. No. I wonder if I could switch the topic for a minute and ask you about Japan. Apparently, Japan needs markets and can't turn to red china for them. Do you think that Japan could keep her economy going with trade in Southeast Asia? Well, I think for a great deal, Japan has always been dealing with Indonesia as far as Indonesia is concerned. But do you think it could keep its economy going by trade with Indonesia and other south without trade with China? Well, I don't know. But I think it has been an historical fact that Japan has always had a commercial intercourse with China. As a final question, sir, we in America, many of our young people are interested in nations where there is hope, where there is development, where once a young country ourselves. Now, is Indonesia a hopeful nation today for young men, for your young men and the other young men of the world? Well, I think Indonesia is a young country. I see. And managed by young men. Thank you very much for being with us tonight, sir. It's very kind of you to be with us. The editorial board for this edition of the Laun Jean Chronoscope was Mr. Eliot Haynes and Mr. William Bradford Huey. Our distinguished guest was his excellency Dr. Ali Sastrow Amayou Joyo, Indonesian ambassador to the United States. The first Queen Elizabeth was fascinated by watches and collected many very valuable and beautiful specimens. As she was greatly perturbed, so to say, by their particularly bad habits, they were always either an hour slow or an hour fast. How very different from the fine watches such as Laun Jean, which are so freely available in the reign of Elizabeth II. We might say particularly Laun Jean, for the Laun Jean watch is worth much more than the little more it costs. If you own a Laun Jean watch, you know how its superior construction pays off in years of satisfaction. How perfectly your Laun Jean watch functions. How well it keeps on telling good time year after year. The superior quality of Laun Jean watches has won highest honors from the highest authorities. Ten grand prizes and twenty-eight gold medals from World Spheres and International Expositions. First prizes literally by the hundreds from leading government observatories. So if you wish to buy for yourself or as a gift, just about the finest watch made anywhere in the world, your choice might be Laun Jean, the world's most honored watch. For that important Easter gift, that graduation presentation or your anniversary token, in fact for any gift occasion. Laun Jean, the world's most honored watch. Premier product of the Laun Jean Wittner watch company since 1866. Maker of watches of the highest character. We invite you to join us every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening at this same time for the Laun Jean Chronoscope. A television journal of the important issues of the hour. Broadcast on behalf of Laun Jean, the world's most honored watch. And Wittner, distinguished companion for the world's honored Laun Jean. This is Frank Knight reminding you that Laun Jean and Wittner watches are sold and serviced from coast to coast by more than 4,000 leading jewelers who proudly display this emblem. Agency for Laun Jean Wittner watches. This is the CBS television network.