Soemarmo was escorted by Albert to the detention site of Governor-General Andries, a place spacious enough for the Governor to move about freely.
They arrived at a building where Soemarmo saw Andries sitting on a chair beneath a canopy that shielded him from both sunlight and rain. In his hand was a book, and on a small table beside him stood a glass filled with tea.
The man wore a simple white shirt and cream-colored three-quarter trousers, with brown sandals on his feet.
Not far from Andries stood a middle-aged European woman wearing a simple yellow one-piece dress. She appeared to be knitting a sweater. If Soemarmo remembered correctly, she was Caroline, Andries's wife.
And a short distance from the two of them stood a girl who appeared to be around thirteen or fifteen years old, wearing a pleated pink one-piece dress. The girl was playing with a teddy bear, and it was clear from her face that she was under severe stress.
Soemarmo glanced around. He could see several guards in green uniforms with red-and-white armbands standing watch while carrying their weapons.
"Come on, let's meet him," Soemarmo said. Albert merely nodded and walked beside him.
..
Step step splash splash
Seeing the two figures approaching from outside, the guards were initially alert. But once they realized it was Soemarmo and Albert, they immediately rendered a military salute.
The guards' actions made the three detainees tense up—especially Maria, who was still traumatized by the siege of Batavia three months earlier.
Andries, who had been reading his book, stopped and turned toward the two visitors. The first was his warden, Lieutenant General Albert Eicheberg, who had accompanied him here for the past three months.
He was already familiar with the man and knew that Albert had followed his former commander—once an outstanding student of the Dutch East Indies and a former soldier of the German Empire—back here.
Then Andries's dark blue eyes fell upon a figure he knew all too well. A man whom, just a year earlier, he had invited to the Governor's Palace in Batavia to receive a medal of honor. Colonel Soemarmo Soerjokoesoemo—or now, Commander Soemarmo Soerjokoesoemo—the mastermind behind this military rebellion.
Caroline, seated beside Andries, was visibly frightened, her hands trembling. The woman was deeply traumatized, just like her daughter.
"Calm down," Andries said as he clasped his wife's hand, trying to soothe her.
Caroline could only nod. She felt slightly calmer, yet fear still crept deep into her bones. "Be careful. Don't make him angry," she whispered, warning her husband not to provoke the rebel leader.
Andries simply nodded calmly in response.
Seeing the arrival of his guests, Andries closed his book and took a sip of tea before rising from his seat.
His face was still pale, dark circles beneath his eyes. Yet he remained composed as he faced the man who had imprisoned him.
"I never expected that after one year, you would become a Commander," Andries remarked in Dutch, approaching Soemarmo with a sarcastic tone.
"Yes. And I did it for the independence of my own country," Soemarmo replied in the same language, not the least bit offended by Andries's sarcasm.
"And should I congratulate you, then? Because soon you will be leading this country," Andries said calmly, staring at the native man who stood as tall as himself.
"You can do that later," Soemarmo waved his hand dismissively, then looked at Andries, Caroline, and finally at the beautiful young girl—their youngest daughter. "You are living comfortably here, aren't you?"
"…"
Andries did not respond, only glaring sharply at Soemarmo—especially when his gaze briefly fell upon his daughter.
"What do you want? Isn't controlling Batavia enough?" Andries asked sharply, clearly displeased by Soemarmo's presence.
"No. Batavia is only half of my objective," Soemarmo said, shaking his head. Then he looked at Andries calmly. "My goal is the independence of this nation."
"…You know that's impossible, don't you? The Netherlands will never accept this independence, and Great Britain and France will attempt to intervene," Andries said, briefly studying Soemarmo before laying out the political realities that made colonial independence seemingly impossible.
"Latin America managed it—why can't we?" Soemarmo retorted. "Besides, there's a country in the New World that shouts anti-colonialism every day, isn't there?"
Soemarmo was referring to the independence of Latin American nations from powers such as Portugal and Spain. He also alluded to the country that relentlessly championed anti-colonialism on the global stage.
That country was none other than the United States of America, now emerging as a central figure in world affairs. It loudly promoted anti-colonial ideals in international forums, declaring that every nation had the right to independence—just as they themselves had once freed themselves from the British Empire.
"And the Netherlands won't be able to deploy troops," Soemarmo continued. "Britain and France still owe debts to the United States. They will think twice before intervening."
Soemarmo believed the Netherlands lacked the capacity to send a significant military force to its far eastern colony. As for Britain and France, although they possessed power in Southeast Asia, they would hesitate to take over the Dutch East Indies, as doing so could provoke the United States, which was still providing them with financial aid.
"You truly intend to make me sign a surrender…" Andries said helplessly, pinching the bridge of his nose before looking at Soemarmo. "Then what guarantees do you offer?"
"Guarantees? There are many," Soemarmo replied lightly. "You may live here until the end of your life and manage a plantation near Buitenzorg, or be sent back to the Netherlands via British Malaya."
In truth, there were many options—ranging from residence rights in Indonesia to repatriation aboard a British civilian ship.
Hearing this, Andries felt conflicted. On one hand, he did not wish to remain on this land. On the other, if he returned, his family would become the object of ridicule among the Jonkheer aristocracy. He feared that his children, like Maria, might even take their own lives due to the humiliation caused by his failure.
"What if I stay here?" Andries finally said, concluding that remaining was better than returning home only to be mocked by other Dutch nobles.
"I can grant you a plantation in Puncak," Soemarmo replied. "However, you will be guarded by soldiers around the clock for ten years. After Indonesia gains independence, you must comply with our new regulations."
If Andries chose to stay, he would still be considered a detainee for ten years. This served two purposes: preventing his escape and protecting him from extremist native factions such as communist groups.
Additionally, if Andries truly wished to manage a tea plantation and its industry, he would be required to follow Indonesia's future industrial regulations.
"You're really detaining me for ten years?!" Andries exclaimed in disbelief.
"This is for your safety and your family's," Soemarmo replied. "Communist groups have resurfaced. Without protection… you might meet the same fate as the Russian Tsar."
Soemarmo revealed a grim truth: radical communist groups had recently become active again. Without protection, Andries could suffer the same tragic end as the Romanov family.
Hearing this, Andries's eyes trembled. He asked in disbelief, "How is that possible? Weren't they dissolved and banned?"
"We've discovered their sympathizers. They seem to be operating underground," Soemarmo explained. "Cases have begun appearing in Buitenzorg, and I will instruct every independence soldier to watch closely."
...
Some time later, Soemarmo's Buick Master Six sedan departed from Bogor Palace. Inside the car, Soemarmo gazed at a sheet of paper in his hand.
It was a document written by Andries himself, stating that he formally recognized the independence of the Republic of Indonesia. As Governor-General of the Netherlands, he relinquished authority over this territory to be governed by the Indonesian independence fighters, and expressed his hope that the nation would prosper and thrive.
The document bore the signatures of both Andries and Soemarmo.
In time, this paper would come to be known as the Charter of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, standing alongside the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence itself.