Snijders’ third Indies journey (September–December 1929) was the retired Generaal C. J. Snijders’s third return to Nederlandsch-Indië, undertaken as gedelegeerde van den Raad van Bestuur of the K.N.I.L.M. to negotiate with the Indies government over modifications to the K.N.I.L.M. statutes and route. The journey resulted in the opening of the K.N.I.L.M. Weltevreden–Surabaya line and the first west-to-east Java flight on 1 November 1 November 1929, in Snijders’ presence.
The Background
In the course of 1929 certain difficulties had arisen in the exploitation of the K.N.I.L.M., particularly concerning a desired modification to the statutes and to several parts of the route, which necessitated further discussions with the Indies government. The person originally intended for this task was unable to undertake it owing to illness. The Raad van Bestuur of the K.N.I.L.M., of which Snijders had become a member in 1928, asked him to undertake the negotiations as its delegate.
Acceptance and Voyage
Snijders initially hesitated on grounds of health. His doctor, however, declared that he need not object to the journey provided that some moderation was observed in the participation in festivities. Snijders accepted, and sailed on 19 September 19 September 1929 — exactly one year after his departure for the second Indies journey — arriving at Tanjung Priok on 12 October 12 October, as before.
The Negotiations and the West-to-East Java Flight
Discussions at Bandoeng with the Director of the Department of Gouvernementsbedrijven reached their goal. On 1 November 1 November 1929 Snijders attended the opening of the K.N.I.L.M. Weltevreden–Surabaya line and the first west-to-east Java flight.
Further Engagements and Return
At Semarang in November Snijders again attended the jaarfeest of the Nationale Bond “Het Mobilisatiekruis”. At Medan a slight attack of dysentery reminded him of his doctor’s warning, and he declined a reception by the Vereeniging van Nederlandsch-Indische Officieren on Sumatra’s Oostkust. After a short stay at Medan he undertook the return journey to the Netherlands, arriving safely in late December 1929.
See Also
- Cornelis Jacobus Snijders
- K.N.I.L.M.
- K.L.M.
- Snijders’ 1920 visit to Atjeh
- Snijders’ second Indies journey (1928)
- Bandoeng
- Weltevreden
- Surabaya
- Semarang
- Medan
- Tandjong Priok
- 1929
Source
D. van den Berg, Cornelis Jacobus Snijders (1852–1939): Een leven in dienst van zijn Land en zijn Volk (Voorburg: September 1944), pp. 136–137. Koninklijke Bibliotheek shelfmark 0301 4872.