Dutch neutrality and the ABDACOM experience, 1941 – 1942 Consequences of interwar Dutch neutrality for wartime attempts at collaboration Saskia Virginia Noot
[email protected] s1080261 24 June 2016 Supervisor: Dr. Bart Luttikhuis Second Reader: Dr. Anita M.C. van Dissel M.A. programme Colonial and Global History Institute for History, Leiden University Table of Contents Introduction p. 5 Historiography p. 6 Sources p. 9 Research statement p. 10 Structure p. 11 Chapter 1: The history of Dutch neutrality and the defence of the Netherlands Indies p. 13 Introduction p. 13 Dutch neutrality and foreign policy up to the First World War p. 13 The Netherlands and the League of Nations p. 14 The Dutch defence efforts regarding the Netherlands and the Netherlands Indies p. 15 Washington Conference on Limitation of Armament p. 18 The (half) minimum fleet p. 18 The battle cruiser plan p. 21 Conclusion p. 22 Chapter 2: Measures to contain the Japanese threat to Southeast Asia p. 25 Introduction p. 25 Limitation of naval armament p. 25 The Japanese advance in the Far East and its consequences p. 25 The possibility of mutual allied defence p. 27 Pearl Harbour p. 29 Singapore, 18 December 1941 p. 31 Batavia, 22 December 1941 p. 32 Anglo-American tête-à-tête p. 32 The birth of ABDACOM p. 33 Helfrich, Hart and Wavell p. 35 Divergent interests p. 35 Conclusion p. 38 Chapter 3: Seeking potential allies to safeguard the integrity of the Netherlands Indies p. 41 Introduction p. 41 The early stage of conversations p. 41 A private party p.