Council of the Dutch East Indies

The Dutch monarch had the authority to make a final decision in the event of a disagreement between the governor-general and the council.

[3][4] Prior to 1836, the council had the same standing as the governor-general, but that year, its role was reduced to that of an advisory body.

[5] Its powers were reduced again in 1925, but the governor-general still had to consult it before taking certain actions, including making announcements or sending proposals to the semi-legislative Volksraad.

[6] In a report sent to Governor-General Alidius Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer in 1938, the council recommended rejection of the Soetardjo Petition, which had been signed by a number of members of the Volksraad and that asked for a conference to be organised to discuss the autonomy for the Dutch East Indies as part of a Dutch commonwealth.

The council took the view that the demands of the petition were at odds with the Dutch constitution and that Indonesia was not ready to become a dominion.