Black Armada by Rupert Lockwood

BLACK ARMADA by Rupert Lockwood

(Australasian Book Society, 352 pp.
Price: $7.95).

This book vividly recreates a stirring
episode in Australian labor history - the
long and bitter solidarity struggle
supporting the Indonesian Revolution.

This began openly on September 24,
1945, when Brisbane wharfies black-
banned all Dutch ships. Before it ended, the
boycott extended to over 60 naval and
merchant ships, 31 Australian unions, and
seamen from China, India and other
countries. Australian servicemen also
supported Indonesia's cause, a politically
significant development which could be
further explored.

Rupert Lockwood graphically recreates
the protracted struggle, which lasted until
defeat of the 1947 Dutch "police action"
against the Republic. (It could even be
extended to 1960, when Fremantle maritime
workers banned the Dutch aircraft carrier
Karel Doorman, on its way to uphold Dutch
rule in New Guinea).

The author traces the great struggle
which ensued, with Menzies upholding the
imperial system and holding forth against
"the communist-led unions who were
running the country and dictating its
foreign policy". He saw the Dutch as one of
his beloved "great and powerful friends
defending Australia from the 'hordes of
Asia'."

The Liberals and the newspapers weren't
the only ones to oppose working class
internationalism. Dr Evatt began by
supporting the Dutch and attacking the
unions, though he later switched. The
rightwing in the union movement also tried
to stop the boycott.

Lockwood raises a most interesting
question about the role played by Ben
Chifley, suggesting that he "unofficially
endorsed this trade union usurpation in the
hazardous arena of relations with old and
new orders in Asia, where he himself had to
tread more warily."

Almost certainly true, this suggests not
only that Chifley was more farsighted than
Menzies, but that there were also
substantial Australian capitalist interest in
Asian economic and political influence
which Chifley represented.

One thing is sure; that had it not been for
the militant workers and the Communist
Party, Australia would have been a base for
the Dutch colonialist regime, whatever
Chifley's views. This comes through in
Black Armada, a substantial and
fascinating record of an important part of
Australian post-war history.

It should interest and even enthrall those
who lived through the times, and also
younger people who may have barely heard
of the events. It is of interest that Indonesian
solidarity saw the first big student
demonstration, and the police brutality
which later became authority's stereotyped
reaction.

Another thought springs to mind; that
Australian workers are continuing past
traditions in boycotting Indonesian ships
and communications today, supporting
East Timor. Imperialism is not dead; its
collaborators like Suharto learn nothing
from their own history.

-LA.