Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East and Australasia, Volume VII, Part 1

856d.01/12–2249

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Butterworth)

confidential

[Washington,] December 22, 1949.

Participants:	Mr. H. A. Helb, Counselor Netherlands Embassy
	Mr. Sadarpo, Representative of the Emerging Republic of USI
	Mr. Butterworth—FE
	Mr. Landon1—PSA
	Mr. Nolting—WE

Mr. Helb and Mr. Sadarpo called by appointment in order to announce the transfer of sovereignty by the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of the United States of Indonesia on December 27, 1949. Their call marked a historic occasion of considerable significance in the development of new nations in the Far East as the United States of Indonesia will be the second largest Moslem nation in the world, second only to Pakistan.

The atmosphere of the new situation was signalized by the fact that Messrs. Helb and Sadarpo came together as friends to make the announcement, with Mr. Sadarpo acting as spokesman. This seemed symbolic of the future relations between the Netherlands and the United States of Indonesia and was a fulfillment of United States policy during the past three years when the concept of the mutual need of the Netherlands and of Indonesia for each other was repeatedly emphasized to both.

Mr. Sadarpo extended an invitation to the Government of the United States of America to be represented at the ceremonies in Indonesia on December 27. He apologized for the inadequate accommodations at Batavia indicating, for example, their difficulties in providing flagstaffs for visiting guests. He expressed the hope that their physical limitations would be overlooked. He stated that he was disappointed in not being able to extend a similar invitation to Mr. H. Merle Cochran as United States representative of the United Nations Delegation. He explained that he had been prevented by Mr. Cochran’s departure before authorization to extend the invitation had been received. I assured Mr. Sadarpo that I would telegraph this invitation to Mr. Cochran in his behalf.

I expressed my gratification to Messrs. Sadarpo and Helb at this historic development and said that all officers in the United States Government who had been concerned with the recent negotiations would similarly feel profound pleasure at the prospects for the future.

At this point Mr. Sadarpo left to catch a plane to New York and Mr. Helb remained to hand me a copy of a note which will be presented tomorrow by the Netherlands Ambassador to the Secretary to the effect that the Netherlands Government would formally recognize the United States of Indonesia as an independent and sovereign state in a ceremony at Amsterdam on December 27, and expressed the hope that the Government of the United States of America would similarly recognize the new state after the transfer of sovereignty. Mr. Helb repeated that this was an advance notice which would be formalized tomorrow.

I informed Mr. Helb that Mr. Cochran would be our first Ambassador to the U.S.I.; that he was selected in the light of favorable comments made concerning him at The Hague; and, that I would promptly inform Mr. Cochran of these developments. Mr. Helb expressed his personal satisfaction at the selection of Mr. Cochran as first Ambassador to the U.S.I.²

1. Kenneth P. Landon, of the Office of Philippine and Southeast Asian Affairs.
2. The Department reported this exchange of views in telegram 650, December 23, 2 p. m., to Batavia (from Lacy for Cochran and Beam), and concluded as follows: “Accordingly Dept believes Beam may seek Cochran’s agrément immed after conclusion ceremonies and Cochran may present his letters of credence soonest thereafter. President’s statement on Voice will be timed in accordance Cochran’s advice as previously agreed.” (856d.01/12–2349) For Voice of America broadcasts to Indonesia, starting December 27, see Department of State Bulletin, January 9, 1950, p. 65.