JDBC Applet doesnt connect

I am making this applet that connects to a databse server and brings
back some data.
It works fine inside eclipse, but when I run it using appletviewer or
open the html file the getConnection() method fails with a null pointer
exeption. Java Console displays this:
-------
loaded driver
Exception: java.lang.NullPointerException
createGUI didn't successfully complete
java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
----------------
This is not SQLException because of connectivity. That exception is
caught and displays "Cannot get connection" and aso because the exact
code works from eclipse. Of course I suspect it to be security related.

This is my .java.policy file in the home directory of the user.

-----------
grant {
permission java.net.SocketPermission "10.1.3.141:1521", "accept,
connect, listen, resolve";
permission java.net.SocketPermission "localhost", "resolve";
};
------------

I have tried self signing the applet by making a jar file from the
class file, signing it using jarsigner adding a reference to this jar
in the ARCHIVE and removing the class file from the html.
It results in the warning in the browser, but the end result is the
same.
What can I try next? All ideas are appreciated.

code

public class HelloWorldSwing extends JApplet{
private static final long serialVersionUID = 5738410455835712715L;
public void init()
{
try {
javax.swing.SwingUtilities.invokeAndWait(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
createGUI();
}
});
} catch (Exception e) {
System.err.println("createGUI didn't successfully complete");
System.err.println(e.toString() );
}
}

private void createGUI()
{

Connection c;

final String _driver = "oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver";
final String _url = "jdbc:oracle:thin:@10.1.3.141:1521:IDDBDEV";
Statement stmt=null;
System.err.println("Starting");

try{
Class.forName(_driver);
System.err.println("loaded driver");
c = DriverManager.getConnection(_url,"iddb","iddb");
System.err.println("Established connection");
stmt = c.createStatement();
}
catch (java.lang.ClassNotFoundException e){
System.out.println("Cannot find driver class");
System.exit(1);
}catch (java.sql.SQLException e){
System.out.println("Cannot get connection");
System.exit(1);
}
catch (Exception e){
System.out.println("Exception: "+e.toString() );
System.exit(1);
}
try{
//Read Some data
ResultSet results = stmt.executeQuery("SELECT * FROM storeclosing ");
//and display
}
stmt.close();
}catch (java.sql.SQLException e){
System.out.println("SQL Exception");
System.exit(1);
}
}

}

/code