Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXIII, Southeast Asia

304. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Brubeck) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)⁰

Washington, April 24, 1963.

SUBJECT

• Suggested Presidential Message to President Sukarno in Connection with Transfer of West New Guinea to Indonesia

Ambassador Jones has strongly recommended that the President send a message of congratulations to President Sukarno on the occasion of the May 1 ceremony transferring the administration of West New Guinea from the United Nations to Indonesia.¹

The Department agrees that a Presidential message would serve our interests in Indonesia. Effusive messages are certain to come from the Bloc and from many of the Afro-Asians. Since we took such a leading part in the West New Guinea settlement, our failure to follow through with a friendly message at this time would be puzzling to the Indonesians and would give the other side a clear propaganda advantage. The absence of a message from the President would be particularly noticed by Sukarno, who puts much stock in what he feels to be a personal rapport with the President. As you know, this feeling on Sukarno’s part is one of our most useful assets in Indonesia.

We recognize that the Dutch might take offense at a message of this nature and that it could serve to rekindle their dwindling resentment over our role in the West New Guinea settlement.² It is admittedly somewhat risky, particularly in view of the Dutch parliamentary elections scheduled for May 15. Since we took the onus of promoting the settlement itself to further our interests, however, we doubt that this final gesture would add much to Dutch irritation.

A suggested message from the President is attached.³ Since Sukarno is leaving Djakarta on April 28 or 29 en route to West New Guinea, the message would have to be sent by April 26 to be sure of reaching him in ample time.

Jeanne Davis⁴

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 32–4 INDON. Confidential. Drafted by Ingraham; cleared in draft by Rice, Bell, Francis E. Meloy, Director of the Office of Western European Affairs, and by Robert J. McCloskey, Deputy Director of the Office of News, Bureau of Public Affairs.
1. Jones provided a draft message in telegram 1566 from Djakarta, April 10. In telegram 645 from The Hague, April 11, Ambassador Rice “strongly questioned the advisability of a proposed Presidential message.” (Both ibid.)
2. President Kennedy, through Komer, asked the Department of State to have the Embassy in The Hague review the current state of Netherlands opinion with respect to the New Guinea settlement and the U.S. role therein. (Memorandum from Komer to Brubeck, March 1; ibid., POL 32–1 INDO–NETH) The Department informed Bundy on March 27 that “with the restoration of Dutch-Indonesia relations the Embassy believes that, for all practical purposes, Dutch unhappiness over the US role in the New Guinea affairs is a thing of the past and not a significant factor in our current relations or future dealings with the Netherlands.” (Memorandum from Brubeck to Bundy, March 27; ibid.)
3. Attached but not printed. The message from Kennedy to Sukarno was approved and sent to Jones in telegram 968 to Djakarta, April 26, for use in the transfer ceremony on May 1. (Ibid., POL 32–4 INDON)
4. Davis of S/S signed for Brubeck above Brubeck’s typed signature.