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Henk Sneevliet - A Life in Documents

1917-1918: Article Zegepraal on the Russian revolution

Sneevliet by Holz In March 1917 Sneevliet published an enthusiastic article in the Dutch East Indies journal De Indiër, titled Zegepraal [Victory], about the successful Russian Revolution as an example to follow for the Javanese people. Because of this article Sneevliet was criminally prosecuted. During the trial Sneevliet defended himself with a nine-hour speech (published in 1918 as Het Proces Sneevliet; De Sociaal-Democratie in Nederlandsch-Indië). The judicial decision was to free Sneevliet. In December 1918 under pressure by the conservative press he was expelled from the Dutch East Indies due to his "subversive" political propaganda and his activities on behalf of seamen and soldiers' councils.

Postcard from Darna Koesoema to Henk Sneevliet, 21-3-1917, with a copy of the Indonesian journal Pertimbangan [Judgement], in which the Malay translation by Darna of Sneevliet's article Zegepraal [Victory] on the Russian Revolution was published. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 49 (pdf, 2.8Mb)

Rough draft of a handwritten text of the words of defense by Henk Sneevliet concerning the appeal case on the article Zegepraal [Victory] to the Supreme Court of the Netherlands Indies in the meeting of the Court, Batavia 27-3-1917. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 132 (pdf, 1.1Mb)

Draft of a letter from Henk Sneevliet to D.J.A. Westerveld, 23-4-1917; to prevent a split in the ISDV [Indies Social Democratic Association], Sneevliet tried to moderate the differences between left and right within the ISDV as a consequence of action brought against Sneevliet because of his strong article Zegepraal [Victory]. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 52 (pdf, 1.2Mb)

Pamphlet of the ISDV [Indies Social Democratic Association] branch Semarang for the Semarang Council elections, for which Henk Sneevliet was a candidate, 1917. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 81 (pdf, 807Kb)

Letter from the Perhimpoenan Kaoem Boeroeh 'Parajitna' (PKBP, Indonesian Trade Union) to the Comité voor Bewegingsvrijheid in Nederlandsch-Indië [Committee for Freedom of Movement], 11-8-1917, in which Henk Sneevliet participated, about the activities of the PKBP in favor of the Committee. (Indonesian text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 51 (pdf, 1.6Mb)

Telegram from the seamen on board the torpedo boat Tandjong Priok supporting Henk Sneevliet in his lawsuit, 20-11-1917. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 51 (pdf, 661Kb)

Letter from the Indonesian nationalist journalist Marco Kartodikromo to Henk Sneevliet, 23-11-1917, relating to Sneevliet's lawsuits about his article Zegepraal [Victory]. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 51 (pdf, 1.7Mb)

Handwritten draft of a text of Henk Sneevliet's words of defence to the Council of Justice Semarang, November 1917. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 108 (pdf, 1.2Mb)

Letter from the Board of the Bond van Minder Marine Personeel [BMMP, Union of Lower Navy Men] on the steamer Regentes to Henk Sneevliet, 6-5-1918, about the punishments imposed on the crew who refused to do their duty on Labor Day, 1 May 1918. With an enclosure on the kind of punishments. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 94 (pdf, 3Mb)

Letter from the Netherlands Indies nationalist and leader of the Indische Partij [IP, Indies Party] E.F.E. Douwes Dekker to Henk Sneevliet, 5-9-1918, about collaboration of the IP with the ISDV. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 49 (pdf, 1.2Mb)

Reply letter from Henk Sneevliet to E.F.E. Douwes Dekker, leader of the Indische Partij [IP, Indies Party], on collaboration IP with Indische Sociaal-Democratische Vereeniging [ISDV, Indies Social Democratic Association], 9-9-1918. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 49 (pdf, 985Kb)

Letter from the Executive Committee of the Vereeniging Insulinde to Henk Sneevliet, 27-9-1918, concerning critics of the political strategy of the Indische Sociaal-Democratische Vereeniging [ISDV, Indies Social Democratic Association], as well as about attempts to collaborate again. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 73 (pdf, 874Kb)

Het Vrije Woord [Free Speech] from 16 November 1918, volume 4 No. 7, sent as a sample issue to governor-general J.P. van Limburg Stirum, but refused and returned. With a wrapper of the postal services. Sneevliet was editor of Het Vrije Woord, the organ of the Indische Sociaal-Democratische Vereeniging [ISDV, Indies Social Democratic Association]. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 144 (pdf, 1.8Mb)

Copy of the court order with the legal notification of of Henk Sneevliet's expulsion from the Netherlands Indies, 5-12-1918. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 138 (pdf, 1.4Mb)

Letter from Henk Sneevliet to Marie Hartogh, wife of C. Hartogh, board member of the Indische Sociaal-Democratische Vereeniging [ISDV, Indies Social Democratic Association], 12-12-1918, about the settlement of accounts relating to the book Het Proces Sneevliet; De Sociaal-Democratie in Nederlandsch-Indië [The Trial of Henk Sneevliet]. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 49 (pdf, 752Kb)

Report of a propaganda trip by Asser Baars, a political friend of Henk Sneevliet, 1918, with suggestions for changing the Indische Sociaal-Democratische Vereeniging [ISDV, Indies Social Democratic Association] and influencing the Javanese cultural society Boedi Oetomo [BO, Noble Endeavour] and the nationalist mass movement Sarekat Islam [SI, Islamic Association]. With critical comments by Henk Sneevliet. Important document because of the future politics and tactics concerning the Kuomintang. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 76 (pdf, 7.4Mb)

Authorization for Henk Sneevliet given by the Vereeniging van Spoor- en Tramweg Personeel [VSTP, Union of Rail and Tramway Personnel] to represent the VSTP in "The Netherlands and elsewhere", with a letter of presentation from the VSTP, 23-1-1919. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 440 (pdf, 1.8Mb)

Letter from P. Bergsma, political friend of Henk Sneevliet and an active communist in the Netherlands Indies, to Sneevliet, 21-5-1919; concerning a congress of the Indonesian Inlandse Pandhuisbond [Native Pawnshop Union], where, according to Bergsma, a revolutionary élan dominated, inspired by Sneevliet. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 361 (pdf, 1.6Mb)

Letter from Henk Sneevliet to the Indische Sociaal-Democratische Vereeniging [ISDV, Indies Social Democratic Association], Surabaya 19-6-1919, in which Sneevliet is reporting briefly about his political activities in the Netherlands after his expulsion from the Netherlands Indies. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 361 (pdf, 7.2Mb)

Letter from the Indonesian nationalist, trade unionist and member of the Indische Sociaal-Democratische Vereeniging [ISDV, Indies Social Democratic Association], Semaoen to Henk Sneevliet and his comrade H.W. Dekker, 1-2-1920, concerning the establishment of a red trade union federation and a propaganda trip by Semaoen in favor of the Vereeniging van Spoor- en Tramweg Personeel [VSTP, Union of Rail and Tramway Personnel]. (Dutch text)
Henk Sneevliet Papers, inv.no. 363 (pdf, 1.3Mb)

Members ISDV together during the trial against Henk Sneevliet on Wednesday 21 November 1917 in Semarang.
Call number BG A54/517 (pdf, 394Kb)

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