Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1164

 1112 NETHERLANDS: — DUTCH EAST INDIES

Colonies.

The colonial possessions of the Netherlands, situated in the East Indies and the West Indies, embrace an area of about 783,000 English square miles. The total population, according to the last returns (December 31, 1917). was, approximately, 47,149,903, or nearly eight times as large as that of the mother-country.

DUTCH EAST INDIES.

The Dutch possessions in Asia, forming the territory of Dutch East India (Nederlandsch Oost Indie), are situated between 6° N. and 11° S. latitude, and between 95° and 141° E. longitude.

In 1602 the Dutch created their East India Company. This Company conquered successively the Dutch East Indies, and ruled them during nearly two centuries. After the dissolution of the Company in 1798 the Dutch possessions were governed by the mother-country.

Government and Constitution.

Politically, the territory, which is under the sovereignty of the Netherlands, is divided into (1) Lands under direct government ; (2) Subject native States.

With regard to administration, the Dutch possessions in the East Indies are divided into residencies, divisions, regencies, districts, and dessas (vil- lages). They are also very often divided into: (1) Java and Madura ; (2) the Outposts — Sumatra, Borneo, Riau-Lingga Archipelago, Banca, Billiton, Cele- bes, Molucca Archipelago, the small Sunda Islands, and a part of New Guinea.

Java, the most important of the colonial possessions of the Netherlands, was formerly administered, politically and socially, on a system established by General Johannes Graaf Van den Bosch in 1832, and known as the 'cul- ture system.' It was based in principle on the officially superintended labour of the natives, directed so as to produce not only a sufficiency of food for themselves, but a large quantity of colonial produce best suited for the European market. To-day, however, the old system no longer exists.

The whole of Java — including the neighbouring island of Madura— is divided into seventeen residencies, each governed by a Resident, assisted by several Assistant-Residents and a number of subordinate officials, called Controleurs. The Resident and his assistants exercise almost absolute control over the province in their charge ; not, however, directly, but by means of a vast hierarchy of native officials. The Outposts are ad- ministered by functionaries with the titles of 'Governor,' 'Resident,. 'Assistant-Resident,' ' Contr61eur,' &c.

The superior administration and executive authority of Dutch India rest in the hands of a Governor-General. He is assisted by a Council of live members, partly of a legislative, partly of an advisory character. The members of the Council, however, have no share in the executive. The Governor- General and the members of the Council are nominated by the Queen. In 1917 a ' Volksraad ' was installed to discuss the budget.

Governor -General. — Dr. I). Pock, appointed September 28, 1920.

The Governor-General represents not only the executive power of govern- ment, but he has a right of passing laws and regulations for the administra- tion of the colony, so far as this power is not reserved to the legislature of the mother-country. However, he is bound to adhere to the constitutional principles on which the Dutch Indies are governed, and which are laid down in the ' Regulations for the Government of Netherlands India, ' passed by the King and States-General of the mother-country in 1854, and altered many times since.