First in History: Indonesian Citizen Appointed Minister in the Netherlands

For the first time in history, an Indonesian citizen has been appointed a minister in the Netherlands. He is Ario Soejono, a son of Tulungagung who was entrusted with a place in the cabinet of Dutch Prime Minister Pieter Sjoerd Gerbrandy on 6 June 1942.

At that time, Gerbrandy formally appointed Soejono as minister without portfolio. The appointment was a historic moment because, for the first time, an Indonesian entered the Dutch government.

“A historic moment, because now for the first time a son of the Indonesian nation has become a member of the Dutch government,” said Gerbrandy in a state address that was met with thunderous applause.

According to Harry A. Poeze in Di Negeri Penjajah: Orang Indonesia di Negeri Belanda, 1600-1950 (2008), Soejono’s appointment was intended to emphasise the bond of shared fate between the Netherlands and Indonesia.

However, the post was not a ministerial position with a specific department. Soejono served as minister without portfolio. His appointment can therefore be seen as an effort by the Dutch government to include an Indonesian in the governing coalition.

So who exactly was Ario Soejono?

Soejono was born in Tulungagung, East Java, on 31 March 1886 into a well-to-do family. His father was the Regent of Tulungagung. His family background gave Soejono the opportunity to pursue an education and later build a career in government.

He began his career as an assistant wedana in 1911. His career continued to climb until he was entrusted with the post of Regent of Pasuruan from 1915 to 1927. When he became regent, he was still relatively young, around 30 years old.

Soejono also entered politics by becoming a member of the Volksraad, the representative body of the colonial era, from 1920 to 1930.

His brilliant career made Soejono one of the officials relied upon by the colonial government. He travelled back and forth between the Netherlands and Java several times to attend various seminars and training courses.

However, the situation changed when Japan invaded the Dutch East Indies in 1942. The colonial administration was threatened with collapse and a number of officials left Java.

As described by Poeze, Soejono fled to Australia together with van Mook and Loekman Djajadiningrat. From Australia, he then went to London, where the Dutch government was in exile after the Netherlands was occupied by Nazi Germany.

It was in London that Soejono joined the Gerbrandy cabinet. Although he was appointed minister by the Dutch government, Soejono did not simply follow the wishes of the colonial power. He instead used his position to voice Indonesia’s interests.

During his time as minister, Soejono provided input on Indonesia’s constitutional arrangements after the war ended. He stated that Indonesian society wanted to sever its ties with the Netherlands.

“To that end, Soejono stated that Indonesian society wanted to sever its ties with the Netherlands. Therefore, according to Soejono, the Dutch statement must guarantee the birth of voluntary togetherness and a constitutional bond,” wrote Poeze.

Colonial Minister van Mook also proposed a more equal relationship between the colonies, including Indonesia, and the Netherlands. The colonies would eventually have their own ministries and parliaments. However, Soejono considered the idea insufficient.

“For Soejono, that alone was not enough. In his view, Indonesia had to be fully independent,” said Martin Bossenbroek in Pembalasan Dendam Diponegoro (2023).

These demands were not heeded by Gerbrandy and the other cabinet members. They considered Soejono’s demands to be going too far. He repeated the statement several times, but it was still ignored.

Soejono did not choose to resign. He kept his position while continuing to voice Indonesia’s interests. However, his struggle did not last long. Soejono became isolated in London and died on 5 January 1943.

His name remains recorded in history as the first Indonesian ever to sit in a Dutch government.