Dutch New Guinea (Irian, Jaya, Irian Barat, West Irian, West New Guinea), a province of Indonesia consisting of the western half of the island of New Guinea and adjacent islands, has an area of 159,376 sq. mi. (412,781 sq. km.) and a population of 930,000. Capital: Jayapura. Many regions are but partially explored. Rubber, copra and tea are produced. ,Northwest New Guinea was first visited by Dutch navigators in the 17th century. Dutch sovereignty was established and extended throughout the 18th century. In 1828, Dutch New Guinea was declared a dependency of Tidore (an island of Moluccas conquered by the Dutch in 1654). The boundary was established by treaties with Great Britain (1884) and Germany (1885). Japanese forces occupied only the northern coastal area in 1942; they were driven out by the Allies in 1944.,, ,The Netherlands retained sovereignty over Dutch New Guinea when independence was granted to Indonesia in 1949. It was placed under United Nations administration in 1962, and was transferred to Indonesia in 1963 with provision for the holding of a plebiscite by 1969 to decide the country?s future. As a result, it became a province of Indonesia.,, Rulers:,,, ,Dutch to 1963,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Gulden = 100 Cents to 1963,,