Office of the Historian

156. Memorandum From Thomas J. Barnes of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Washington, May 17, 1976.1 2

Washington, May 17, 1976

MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
URGENT INFORMATION

May 17, 1976

MEMORANDUM FOR: BRENT SCOWCROFT
FROM: THOMAS J. BARNES [TJB initialed]

SUBJECT: Military Equipment Deliveries to Indonesia

At Secretary Kissinger’s direction, State in January 1976 quietly stopped certifying to Defense the delivery of further military equipment to Indonesia. There was no formal suspension, and no publicity about the action. DOD cannot make deliveries without State certification.

Before leaving for Africa, the Secretary decided to renew certification of deliveries. Senators Hume and Case meanwhile wrote the State Department asking State to suspend further military aid to Indonesia until Assistant Secretary Habib could testify before the Humphrey Subcommittee on Foreign Assistance of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The issue, of course, was Indonesian use of U.S. arms and equipment in Timor. Habib therefore held up the renewal of certification until he could appear before the Subcommittee. He hopes to do so this week.

Jakarta 6442 of May 17 pointed out the urgent need for a decision on military training in the United States for Indonesian flag officers. Habib has prepared a Maw to Fish memorandum on the training program. He hopes to get the memorandum to Defense May 17. If the Defense lawyers accept it, the training will go ahead.

cc: Les Janka
Ken Quinn
Col. Granger

  1. Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 6, Indonesia (7). Secret; Sensitive. Urgent; sent for information. Scowcroft wrote on the memorandum, “Thanks. BS.” Jakarta Telegram 6442, March 17, is Document 155. Humphrey’s and Case’s April 28 letter is contained in Telegram 104735 to the Secretary’s delegation, May 1. (National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files) On May 17, at 2005Z, telegram 120825 to Jakarta gave the Department’s reply to telegram 6442 from Jakarta. The telegram, drafted by Miller and approved by Maw, stated, “The training program you cite will proceed on schedule. You can inform Indonesians accordingly.” (Ibid.)↩
  2. Barnes sent Scowcroft a memorandum on military equipment deliveries to Indonesia.↩