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Authors: Pramoedya Ananta Toer
Tags: Romance, Historical
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determines all, has conferred upon you. But in the case of the Japanese, it makes sense to acknowledge them as equals.”
And Telinga again: “It’s a pity I don’t know anything about the Romans, though it must be true if it’s written in the histories. But there is a difference with the Japanese. It’s not possible to acknowledge them to be equally tall in all climes. That would be directly violating the laws of nature.”
And Jean Marais: “Why can’t those who disagree with the decision restrain their need to hurl insults? Amongst ourselves—ifall we want to do is hurl insults—it has to be acknowledged that we all don’t stand equally tall; with stupid insults we will only strike back at ourselves. It’s true, isn’t it, that you could get together a number of colonial gentlemen who are dwarfs, either because their growth was stunted or because they were naturally small.”
Another voice again: “Japan has been given equal status with Europe. And that is only possible because of our own generosity and sense of charity. Now it is law. And this is the question: If China achieves some little progress like Japan, will China also be given equal status? There’s nothing wrong with daring to put such a question. We must dare also to answer it. If it turns out that we must answer yes, what then will become of these Indies? What will our position be then?
“The Japanese and Chinese people are famous for their wandering, a wandering caused by their poverty. The latest news is that the Japanese are flooding into Hawaii, and have already begun arriving in America—both north and south. The Chinese have come into Southeast Asia in wave after wave. Those who know say it started before Christ. In the Indies itself, the number of Chinese is several times greater than the grand total of all the Pure and Mixed-Blood Europeans. Can we forget the Chinese War of 1741–1743 when the Chinese Imperial Fleet swept the Dutch East Indies Company from all its footholds on the north coast of Java? And then the fall of the
Court of Katasura
? It is hoped that our great colonial leaders, whom we all honor and respect, will spare some moments to contemplate these things.
“Look at our colonial investments: How much money and how many lives have we already flushed down the drain to put down every resistance of the Natives—from the moment we set foot here up to this very second? How many thousands of our soldiers have died in Java and Sumatra because of war and malaria? We have waged continuous war in order to retain power. Every barracks-child can tell you! Even now in the very center of the Indies there are enclaves of power that have not bowed down before Her Majesty the Queen. Now there is a yellow-skinned people who have been made our equals: a nation of imitators. With our European technology, they have tried to sow the seeds of pride in their breasts by attacking and conquering Manchuria.The scholars say Japan wants to strengthen itself with the iron and steel of Manchuria.
“With iron and steel, and the science and learning of Europe, we dare not imagine what will happen to the fruits of all our strivings and efforts in the future. Ask any soldier who has had to go into battle time and time again! Ask the men who have served in the Field Police. Just count up how many have died or been disabled for life for the glory of the Greater Netherlands! Be careful!”
I myself, as a result of all this, was forced to imagine Japan as very very close to the Indies, ready at any moment to replace the power and authority of the Netherlands.
The Malay-Chinese papers, which mostly printed advertisements, remained silent; they gave no opinion. Even the turmoil in China itself was hardly ever reported.
Here are my own conclusions on this matter. There was fear among the colonial classes in the Indies. It was as if they had lost faith in their own strength. And how can such a tall people be so afraid of another race—a race it
And Telinga again: “It’s a pity I don’t know anything about the Romans, though it must be true if it’s written in the histories. But there is a difference with the Japanese. It’s not possible to acknowledge them to be equally tall in all climes. That would be directly violating the laws of nature.”
And Jean Marais: “Why can’t those who disagree with the decision restrain their need to hurl insults? Amongst ourselves—ifall we want to do is hurl insults—it has to be acknowledged that we all don’t stand equally tall; with stupid insults we will only strike back at ourselves. It’s true, isn’t it, that you could get together a number of colonial gentlemen who are dwarfs, either because their growth was stunted or because they were naturally small.”
Another voice again: “Japan has been given equal status with Europe. And that is only possible because of our own generosity and sense of charity. Now it is law. And this is the question: If China achieves some little progress like Japan, will China also be given equal status? There’s nothing wrong with daring to put such a question. We must dare also to answer it. If it turns out that we must answer yes, what then will become of these Indies? What will our position be then?
“The Japanese and Chinese people are famous for their wandering, a wandering caused by their poverty. The latest news is that the Japanese are flooding into Hawaii, and have already begun arriving in America—both north and south. The Chinese have come into Southeast Asia in wave after wave. Those who know say it started before Christ. In the Indies itself, the number of Chinese is several times greater than the grand total of all the Pure and Mixed-Blood Europeans. Can we forget the Chinese War of 1741–1743 when the Chinese Imperial Fleet swept the Dutch East Indies Company from all its footholds on the north coast of Java? And then the fall of the
Court of Katasura
? It is hoped that our great colonial leaders, whom we all honor and respect, will spare some moments to contemplate these things.
“Look at our colonial investments: How much money and how many lives have we already flushed down the drain to put down every resistance of the Natives—from the moment we set foot here up to this very second? How many thousands of our soldiers have died in Java and Sumatra because of war and malaria? We have waged continuous war in order to retain power. Every barracks-child can tell you! Even now in the very center of the Indies there are enclaves of power that have not bowed down before Her Majesty the Queen. Now there is a yellow-skinned people who have been made our equals: a nation of imitators. With our European technology, they have tried to sow the seeds of pride in their breasts by attacking and conquering Manchuria.The scholars say Japan wants to strengthen itself with the iron and steel of Manchuria.
“With iron and steel, and the science and learning of Europe, we dare not imagine what will happen to the fruits of all our strivings and efforts in the future. Ask any soldier who has had to go into battle time and time again! Ask the men who have served in the Field Police. Just count up how many have died or been disabled for life for the glory of the Greater Netherlands! Be careful!”
I myself, as a result of all this, was forced to imagine Japan as very very close to the Indies, ready at any moment to replace the power and authority of the Netherlands.
The Malay-Chinese papers, which mostly printed advertisements, remained silent; they gave no opinion. Even the turmoil in China itself was hardly ever reported.
Here are my own conclusions on this matter. There was fear among the colonial classes in the Indies. It was as if they had lost faith in their own strength. And how can such a tall people be so afraid of another race—a race it
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