after the statutes of the Indo-European Lea
gue were accepted by the Dutch Goverment,
got the official status as Dutch citizen.
The Indo European League (further referred to
as IEV) wos founded 7 October 1919.
At once the Dutch Government won a strong
ally in the race of upcoming Indonesian organ
izations, for in the statutes of the IEV was
boldly stated, that the members firmly opposed
any action against the Dutch Government.
Principally however they sought cooperation
with all organizations in Indonesia and were
^gainst any opposition to other groups.
J Probably the reader will wonder why in
the clauses of identity of the Indo-Europeans
nor the Netherlands nor the Dutch parentage
was mentioned. This becomes clear however
when we realize that in the beginning of this
Century a very great part of the Indo-Euro
pean s were not of Dutch parentage but
French, German, English, Italian, Swiss, etc.
etc. It was the intention of the IEV to form
an organization as vast and strong as pos
sible. Therefore the European and not the
Dutch parentage was chosen as the deter
minating factor.
The IEV at once attracted thousands of
members and won great popularity and power.
The name Indo-European (for short Indo) was
accepted without restriction, as it brought
certainty at last as to the identity of all
J&ose who lived without identity and civil
L/atus before. It was as if the group was
awake at last. IEV was interpreted as Indo
lentie Eindelijk Voorbij, meaning: Indolence
past at last.
With astonishing energy the Indo's set to
work. Six seats were conquered in the Peo
ple's Council and established in a surpri
singly short time an enormous rise of the
status of the Indo. The salary of civil ser
vants (and most of the Indo's were civil
servants) was brought on a level to permit
him to live as an European. His education
was guaranteed with full rights for admission
to all forms of education. Strong ties were
established between the Indo group and Hol
land by a.o. regular furloughs in Holland.
The IEV built several schools for elemen
tary and higher education, a school for teach
ers, for economic sciences, several schools
for girls, several funds for many purposes.
Progress was made in the field of agriculture
by the establishing of farming—colonies
("klein-landbouw kolonisaties).
Pioneers and most powerful fighters for
the IEV were Karei Zaalberg, Anton van
Lingen and Tjalie Pesch. First chairmen
were Mr. A.H. van Ophuijsen, Mr. K.II.
Enthoven and F.H. de Hoog. Other great
names: Granpre Moliere, Chatelin, Bach
Kol ling, Van Lawick van Pabst, Beets,
Razoux Schultz, de Rozario, Ploegman,
Blaauw, Lapre, and many many more.
Hundreds of Dutch-Indonesian immi
grants in the U.S. can look back proudly on
fathers, who were once formidable builders
of the European society in the Dutch East
Indies.
Fathers and mothers. For the IEV Vrou
wen Organisaties (Women Organizations)
soon conquered an own and vast territory of
social work. In the wake of the Emancipa
tion in Europe the Indo women acted
fast and self-conscious. Housewifery schools
and nursery schools were erected. Admittance
for women to all social positions assured.
Statistics however learn, that this inspi-
rated example was not taken up by the Indo-
European group as a whole. Even in the
most successful years of the IEV only one
quarter of the whole group was registered as
member. The vast majority still "slept in
indolence", profited royally from all bene
fits of the work of the IEV - and did nothing
at all. Also now in the U.S. the greater part
of the Dutch-Indonesian immigrants are no
member of any organization at all, nor does
a conception exist for them in which way one
