The final condition for a nation's independence is the recognition of other countries. That's what Sukarno and Hatta discussed on their way home from Dalat, Saigon, after meeting with Japan's General Terauchi. Three days later, independence was proclaimed. And the fact proved that no recognition promptly followed.

News of Indonesia's independence was circulating, only to be countered by the Netherlands' negative opinion: Indonesia was a mere moc