Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Far East and Australasia, Volume VI

501.BC Indonesia/10–748: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Batavia¹

secret
us urgent

Washington, October 8, 1948—7 p. m.

481. Usgoc 159. Ref. Gocus 403 and 404² and Hague’s 670³ rpt. Batavia. Dept realizes pressure you are under and commends your exercise good judgment in circumstances. Fol is our suggested course of action most likely to lead successful negotiations.

You should not submit NethDel proposals in present form without further instructions from Dept. You will note from Hague’s 670 that Stikker has invited rewording by you of NethDePs covering letter. You should inform Schuurman that you will do this. Helb has undertaken to get from Hague instructions to Schuurman to accept, or to consider most sympathetically, any restatement by you of conditions precedent which would be “effective and inoffensive to other party and agreeable to Cochran”. If Hague so instructs NethDel, we think initial difficulties to resumption of negotiations can be overcome. NethEmb here has emphasized importance to NEI officials and NethDel of truce violations consisting mainly organized infiltrations, and has implied that indication by you to NethDel of serious view taken by you this matter and determination by you and GOC take strong line with Repub re truce violations would have decided effect in softening attitude NethDel. We believe your personal attention this matter would have important and beneficial psychological effect vis-à-vis Dutch.

Dept considers it essential that negotiations be resumed on “basis USDel’s proposals”, even though major substantive differences remain. Aneta press report dated Oct 7 quoted Repub spokesman as saying, inter alia, that “Repub is willing to drop demand that elections must be held first”. If this report is authentic, chances successful negotiations greatly enhanced. It therefore seems to Dept all the more important that negotiations not be allowed founder on issues raised as conditions precedent.

View importance AmEmb Hague’s confirming to Neth FonOff substance your conversations Schuurman, pls keep Hague informed further developments.

Lovett

1. Repeated as 499 to The Hague.
2. Telegrams 884, October 5, p. 384, and 896, October 8, p. 391.
3. October 7, p. 390.