Indonesia and the East Timor Crisis


96. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, April 24, 1973, 1405–1430.

Eagleburger and Galbraith discussed U.S. relations with Indonesia.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 330–76–117, Indonesia, 333, 1973, May 2. Secret. Drafted by Shaid and approved by Doolin. The conversation took place in Eagleburger’s office. Eagleburger’s talking points for the meeting are ibid. On April 25, Kissinger disapproved a recommendation that he meet with Galbraith. (Memorandum from Holdridge to Kissinger, April 23; National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Far East, Box 533, Indonesia, Volume 4, 1 January 1973–)


97. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, May 15, 1973, 4:30 p.m.

Scowcroft and Hasnan Habib discussed intergovernmental communication, military assistance, Indochina, the Sino-Soviet conflict, and Watergate.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Far East, Box 533, Indonesia, Volume 4, 1 January 1973–. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting was held in Scowcroft’s office. John Froebe gave Scowcroft’s talking points, May 15, which began, “You have agreed to meet with General Hasnan Habib, aide to General Sumitro(the number three man in Indonesia), today at 4:30 p.m. As you know, General Sumitro maintains contact with Dr. Kissinger as the special channel of communication between President Suharto and the President.” (Ibid.)


98. Letter From President Nixon to Indonesian President Suharto, Washington, July 12, 1973.

Nixon replied to Suharto’s request for three destroyer escorts.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 755, Presidential Correspondence, Indonesia, Suharto [1970–1974]. No classification marking. On August 7, Clements informed Kissinger that the Department of Defense would be able to transfer the destroyer escorts to Indonesia “approximately within the time frame desired.” (Ibid., Country Files, Far East, Box 533, Indonesia, Volume 4, 1 January 1973–)


99. Letter From Ambassador Galbraith to Secretary of State Designate Kissinger, Washington, September 5, 1973.

Galbraith reported on the situation in Indonesia and asked to remain on as ambassador.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Far East, Box 533, Indonesia, Volume 4, 1 January 1973–. Confidential; Eyes Only; Personal. David Newsom replaced Galbraith as Ambassador in February 1974.


100. Memorandum of Conversation, New York, October 4, 1973, 5:30–6 p.m.

Kissinger and Malik discussed Indochina, foreign aid, and the Middle East.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 533, Country Files, Far East, Indonesia, Volume 4, 1 January 1973–. Secret; Exdis. The meeting was held in apartment 35A at the Waldorf Towers. Cleared by Hummel and approved by Bremer. Talking points for this meeting are ibid.


101. Memorandum From Charles A. Cooper of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, November 24, 1973.

Cooper suggested that Kissinger send a backchannel cable about the level of aid to Indonesia.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 533, Country Files, Far East, Indonesia, Volume 4, 1 January 1973–. Secret. Sent for urgent action. At the top of the document Scowcroft wrote, “Cable sent. BS.” The draft backchannel message is attached but not published. The backchannel message as sent to Galbraith, November 25, is ibid., Box 411, Backchannel Messages, Southeast Asia, Volume II, 1973, Part 1. Galbraith’s backchannel response, November 30, is also ibid.


102. Memorandum From Charles A. Cooper of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, December 4, 1973.

Cooper reported to Kissinger on Suharto’s decision about the level of aid to Indonesia.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 533, Country Files, Far East, Indonesia, Volume 4, 1 January 1973–. Secret. Sent for information. Kissinger initialed the memorandum. Attached Tab A is Galbraith’s backchannel message of December 3; attached Tab B is Kissinger’s November 25 backchannel to Galbraith; Tab C was not attached.


103. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Rush to President Nixon, Washington, January 16, 1974.

Rush recommended that Nixon send Suharto a letter on the Law of the Sea negotiations.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 755, Presidential Correspondence, Indonesia, Suharto [1970–1974]. Secret. The proposed letter, not attached, is Document 106.


104. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, January 22, 1974, 1100–1130.

Newsom met with Department of Defense officials and discussed the Law of the Sea, military aid, and military liaison with Indonesia.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 330–77–0054, Indonesia, 333, 1974, January 31. Secret. Drafted by Shaid and approved by Peet. The conversation took place in the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.


105. Telegram 1100 From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State, January 26, 1974, 0304Z.

The embassy analyzed the Indonesian government’s view on oil prices.

Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Exdis. Repeated for information to Abu Dhabi, Caracas, Kuwait, London, Rome, Tehran, Jidda, and Tripoli.


106. Letter From President Nixon to Indonesian President Suharto, Washington, February 1, 1974.

Nixon offered to send a delegation to Jakarta to discuss the Law of the Sea.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 755, Presidential Correspondence, Indonesia, Suharto [1970–1974]. Secret. Kissinger sent this letter to Nixon under a covering memorandum, January 28, recommending that he sign the letter as proposed by Deputy Secretary Rush. (Ibid.) For Rush’s recommendation, see Document 103.


107. Telegram 47882 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Indonesia, March 9, 1974, 0010Z.

The Department of State informed the Embassy of aid cuts.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 533, Country Files, Far East, Indonesia, Volume 4, 1 January 1973–. Confidential; Priority; Exdis. Drafted by Shakow and Deaver; cleared by MacDonald in AID/AA/ASIA, Griffel in AID/PPC, and Bushnell in the NSC; and approved by Ingersoll. The Embassy’s reply, telegram 3040 from Jakarta, March 12, is ibid.


108. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, April 15, 1974, 12:45–1:15 p.m.

Kissinger and Malik discussed foreign aid, the Law of the Sea, Indochina, and the Middle East.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1028, Presidential/HAK Memcons, 1 March 1974–8 May 1974 [2 of 4]. Confidential; Exdis. Drafted by Dobbins. Kissinger followed up this meeting with a message to Malik explaining he would do all he could to support aid for Indonesia. (Telegram 083508 to Jakarta, April 24; ibid., Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files)


109. Backchannel Message WH 42123 From W.R. Smyser of the National Security Council Staff to the Ambassador to Indonesia (Newsom), Washington, June 22, 1974, 1500Z.

Smyser sent a backchannel telegram to Newsom on aid levels for Indonesia.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 412, Backchannel Messages, Southeast Asia, Volume III, 1974. Secret.


110. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, undated.

Kissinger recommended that Nixon approve the issuance of a NSSM on U.S. policy toward Indonesia.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–206, NSSMs, NSSM 205. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. Kissinger initialed the “approve” option on behalf of Nixon. The correspondence profile indicates that the document was sent to Kissinger on July 16 and that he approved it on July 20, 1974. The tab is attached, but the approved NSSM is Document 111.


111. National Security Study Memorandum 205, Washington, July 20, 1974.

NSSM 205 asked for a review of U.S. aid policy toward Indonesia.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–206, NSSMs, NSSM 205. Secret; Sensitive. A copy was also sent to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and to the counselor to the President for Economic Policy.


112. Telegram 9984 From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State, August 14, 1974, 0435Z.

The Embassy reported Malik’s comments about Portuguese Timor.

Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential. Repeated for information to the Embassies in Lisbon and Canberra, to the Mission at the UN, and to the Consulates at Medan and Surabay.


113. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, September 25, 1974, 4:30 p.m.

Ford, Kissinger, and Malik discussed U.S.-Indonesian relations and Indochina.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 6. Secret. The conversation took place in the Oval Office. Tab A, not attached, is a letter from Suharto to Ford, September 12, expressing appreciation for Ford’s assurances of continuity in U.S. foreign policy. (Ibid., NSC Staff for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Convenience Files, Box 3, Indonesia [3], September 1974–May 1975) Ford’s talking points for the meeting are ibid., Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 6, Indonesia (1).


114. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, November 21, 1974, 1130–1155.

Newsom and Clements discussed military aid and Portuguese Timor.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 330–77–0054, Indonesia, 333, 1974, November 29. Secret. Drafted by Connors and approved by Ellsworth. The conversation took place in the office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense.


115. Memorandum From W.R. Smyser of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, December 30, 1974.

Smyser recommended that Kissinger meet with his special Indonesian contacts.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 6, Indonesia (1). Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for urgent action. Kissinger initialed the approve option and the option of meeting at the White House.


116. Backchannel Message 179 From the Ambassador to Indonesia (Newsom) to W.R. Smyser of the National Security Council Staff, Jakarta, January 13, 1975, 1139Z.

Newsom responded to Smyser’s backchannel telegram about a proposed meeting between Kissinger and Indonesian emissaries.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Staff for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Convenience File, Box 7, Backchannel Messages, Southeast Asia, Incoming, 1/75. Secret. The undated text of the January 11 backchannel message from Smyser to Newson, initialed by Scowcroft with a note that it was sent, is ibid., Outgoing, 1/75.


117. Telegram 026805 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Indonesia, February 6, 1975, 0006Z.

The Department asks for Embassy assessment of the Portuguese Timor situation.

Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Exdis. Sent for information to Lisbon and Canberra. Drafted by Ingraham; cleared in EUR/IB and INR/REA; and approved by Habib.


118. Telegram 1731 From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State, February 10, 1975, 0915Z.

The Embassy reported on Indonesian intentions toward Portuguese Timor.

Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Exdis. Sent for information to Canberra and Lisbon.


119. Telegram 2022 From the Embassy in Jakarta to the Department of State, February 19, 1975, 0001Z.

The Embassy summarized a contingency paper on Portuguese Timor.

Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Exdis. Repeated for information to Canberra Lisbon, and USUN.


120. Memorandum From W.R. Smyser of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, March 4, 1975.

Smyser recommended that Kissinger not authorize a conversation with the Indonesian Defense Attaché about Portuguese Timor.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 6, Indonesia (2). Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for action. Kissinger initialed the approve option.


121. Telegram 3570 From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State, March 26, 1975, 0455Z.

The Embassy reported on the Law of the Sea Negotiations with Indonesia.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 6, Indonesia, State Department Telegrams to SECSTATE, NODIS (2). Secret; Immediate, Nodis; Stadis. Repeated immediate to the Geneva Mission.


122. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Ford, Washington, May 7, 1975.

Kissinger recommended reallocating $25 million of financial aid to Indonesia and Morocco.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 6, Indonesia (2). Secret. Sent for action. Ford initialed the approve option on May 9. Tab A is attached but not published. On May 9, Davis informed Springsteen of the fund reallocation. (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 6, Indonesia [2])


123. National Intelligence Estimate 55–1–75, Washington, June 30, 1975.

The estimate examined the prospects for Indonesia over the next five years.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, OPI 122 (National Intelligence Council), Job 79R01012A, Box 498, NIE 55–1–75, Folder 5. Secret. All members of the U.S. Intelligence Board concurred in the estimate except the representatives of the FBI and the Deputy Assistant Administrator for National Security, Energy Research and Development Administration. The intelligence sections of the Army, Navy, and Air Force also participation in the estimate.


124. Memorandum of Conversation, Camp David, Maryland, July 5, 1975.

Kissinger spoke with Ford about his upcoming meeting with Suharto.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 13. Secret; Nodis.


125. Memorandum of Conversation, Camp David, Maryland, July 5, 1975, 12:45–2 p.m.

Kissinger and Malik led a conversation about East Asia and economic issues.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Staff for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Convenience Files, Box 21, Visit of President Suharto of Indonesia, July 5, 1975 (2). Secret; Exdis.