Politics · Netherlands · 1 day ago
Ario Soejono Became the First Indonesian in the Dutch Government
On June 6, 1942, Ario Soejono joined the Dutch cabinet in exile in London.
He was a minister without portfolio, and his appointment made him the first Indonesian in the Dutch government.
Soejono was born in Tulungagung, Java, and had served as a local official and member of the colonial-era Volksraad.
After Japan invaded the Dutch East Indies in 1942, he fled to Australia and then went to London, where the Dutch government was based after Nazi Germany occupied the Netherlands.
He used his position to call for Indonesia’s full independence, saying Indonesians wanted to end their ties with the Netherlands.
Dutch leaders rejected his demand and considered it too far-reaching, but Soejono stayed in office and continued to speak for Indonesian interests.
He died in London on January 5, 1943, and remains the first Indonesian recorded to have served in the Dutch government.
Ario Soejono became the first Indonesian to join the Dutch government when he was appointed minister without portfolio on June 6, 1942.
The appointment was made by Dutch Prime Minister Pieter Sjoerd Gerbrandy while the Dutch government was in exile in London.
Soejono used his position to argue for Indonesia’s interests and said Indonesians wanted to end their relationship with the Netherlands.
He called for full Indonesian independence, but Gerbrandy and other cabinet members rejected his demands as too far-reaching.
Soejono remained in office and continued to speak for Indonesia until his death in London on January 5, 1943.
- Who
- Ario Soejono, an Indonesian from Tulungagung, was appointed to the Dutch government.
- What
- He became a minister without portfolio, the first Indonesian to join the Dutch government.
- When
- June 6, 1942.
- Where
- London, where the Dutch government was in exile.
- Why
- The appointment was intended to emphasize a shared fate between the Netherlands and Indonesia.
Ario Soejono
Pieter Sjoerd Gerbrandy and other Dutch cabinet members
Indonesia’s future
Ario Soejono
Soejono argued that Indonesia should become fully independent.
Pieter Sjoerd Gerbrandy and other Dutch cabinet members
Gerbrandy and other cabinet members considered his demands too far-reaching and did not accept them.
Soejono was born in Tulungagung, East Java, on March 31.
He began his career as an assistant wedana.
He served as regent of Pasuruan.
Gerbrandy appointed Soejono a minister without portfolio in the Dutch government in exile in London.
Soejono died in London.
- Appointment date
- June 6, 1942
- Position
- Minister without portfolio
- Appointing prime minister
- Pieter Sjoerd Gerbrandy
- Birthplace
- Tulungagung, East Java
- Death date
- January 5, 1943
What people are saying
A historic moment, because now for the first time a son of the Indonesian nation has become a member of the Dutch government
Indonesian society wants to sever its ties with the Netherlands
For Soejono, that alone was not enough. In his view, Indonesia had to be fully independent