501.BC–Indonesia/1–748: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Livengood) to the Secretary of State
23. From Graham No. 85. GOC drafting committee met Vredenburch, Koets1 and Spoor2 night January 4 with hope improving Dutch truce plan (mytel 81 January 5). Koets explained that provision for fortnightly extensions truce was designed benefit Republic and meant truce would be annulled only at end one of fortnight periods, thus give Republic initial grace period in which make truce effective and allowing time for adjusting differences arising from inevitable breaches. Some rewording of other terms of minor importance offered by Dutch, who otherwise adamant. US delegate and Australian delegate pressed for reconsideration provision that demilitarized zone would extend on Dutch side only between line forward positions and Van Mook line, pointing out that lines coincided in several areas, which would result in zone without depth, and urging importance Dutch pulling forward outposts back several kilometres these areas. Dutch refused. Vredenburch observed matter only academic since if troops drew back one day they would return the next as police. Spoor added that even as it was, two divisions would be required police “demilitarized” zones. Vredenburch said if truce carried out Dutch would extend demilitarized zones but did not wish make such commitment in present truce.
While Vredenburch stated Dutch would not expect perfection in carrying out truce by Republic and would be content with genuine [Page 66] effort, (Deptel 40 December 19,3 paragraph 3 (b)) he made plain he did not expect Republic could carry out truce and within three days after effective date GOC could expect commencement deluge of reports from Netherlands of Republican violations.
This connection, Graham, January 5, recalled to Beel various indications Dutch considering resumption police action and requested clarification. Beel denied any such move contemplated at present. [Graham.]
- Dr. P. J. Koets, political adviser to Lt. Gov. Gen. van Mook and Netherlands member of cease-fire committee.↩
- Lt. Gen. Simon H. Spoor, Commander-in-chief of Netherlands Indies Army (Land Forces).↩
- See telegram 372, December 19, 1947, 8 p. m., Foreign Relations, 1947, vol. vi, p. 1084.↩