501.BC Indonesia/10–1348: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Batavia
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501. Usgoc 168. Neth Amb and Counselor sought out Dept officer night Oct 12, informed him that Stikker had described by telephone [Page 413] to Neth Amb reply to Cochran’s memorandum which Schuurman would be instructed to deliver to Cochran and which by now you have presumably received. Van Kleffens said it was his understanding that reply embodied suggestions 1, 2 and 3 Cochran’s memorandum. As for attaching Neth counterproposals to letter acceptance, following 2 sentences were operative: (1) Neth Govt, however, wishes to leave it to Cochran to decide in what manner these objections to US oral note will be brought to notice of Repub; and (2) Neth Govt desires that Neth oral note be despatched together with US oral note and that Neth Govt before resumption negotiations receive confirmation of fact that US oral note together with Neth oral note will be discussed simultaneously before GOC. Neth Amb and Counselor emphasizing their overwhelming desire to get negotiations under way and their recognition of extreme shortness time in which Cochran obliged to act, suggested to Dept officer possibility of pointing out to Cochran by telephone if possible that, whatever intentions of Neth Govt might be or whatever interpretation Schuurman might make, above sentences could be interpreted by Cochran to his advantage; for example, Cochran could, acting under 2nd sentence, allow Neth to present their counterproposals 1 minute after presentation Cochran proposals to GOC; also in 2nd sentence it is not specified to whom Cochran would “despatch” Neth oral note, that is, to Repub or to GOC, so that in fact Cochran would be able to interpret sentence 2 as permitting him to despatch Neth letter acceptance to Repub withholding Neth counterproposals to present GOC. As for sentence 1 it was suggested that Cochran might advise Repub that he had accepted Neth letter acceptance “copy enclosed” and had agreed to Neth offering counterproposals immediately after presentation Cochran plan to GOC and of course extending same privilege to Repub.
Dept officer of course avoided expressing definite opinion as to desirability passing on this suggestion to Cochran. He told Neth Amb and Counselor that he realized risk they were assuming as well as risk they were suggesting he assume but felt bound to point out that were Cochran to act upon suggested course Cochran would run risk of relying heavily on van Kleffens’ ability to support Cochran’s interpretation when the pinch came. Neth Amb said he realized that this was true. In ensuing conversation it became clear that Neth Amb and Counselor have been pressing Neth Govt to adopt more cooperative attitude toward acceptance Cochran plan and are no doubt at present engaged in nothing less than battle with difficult elements Batavia and Hague.
Dept convinced Neth Amb and Counselor good faith and considers Tan Kleffens’ ability to win a matter of even odds. Dept feels it cannot and should not recommend that you accept or reject foregoing [Page 414] suggestion but merely passes it on to you for such disposition as you believe it deserves.