207. Telegram From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State1
2084. In accordance with Sukarno’s request (my telegram 19542) Mrs. Cumming and I had tea at Bogor Palace February 16, entertained Sukarno at small dinner including few palace and Embassy staff on February 19 and today made flight in Navy aircraft UF–1 provided courtesy COMNAVPHIL (my telegram 2034 repeated Manila 1483).
- 1.
- Sukarno received us for 1½ hours at Hartini’s4 house at Bogor Palace 10 o’clock last Saturday morning in completely informal atmosphere. Discussion confined largely to reminiscing our personal association particularly during his trip to US. Both Mrs. Cumming and I were impressed with Hartini who possesses besides real beauty, poise, dignity, and charm which belie stories about her commonness. Pringgodigdo, Director President’s Cabinet who was also present, inquiring from Embassy officer afterwards impression Mrs. Cumming and myself had at tea with Hartini, appeared genuinely overjoyed to learn our favorable impression. He said it was first time any foreign representative had been received by Sukarno with Hartini. We have known for some time that Sukarno is resentful about continued boycott of Hartini by wives other Indonesian leaders. Pringgo expressed hope Mrs. Allison and perhaps other Embassy wives would see Hartini in future and suggested that through her it would be possible to influence Sukarno’s attitude toward Communists.
- 2.
- Sukarno appeared enjoy himself at dinner which included four palace aides and three couples from Embassy. Exchange toasts largely confined to expression personal friendship in which Sukarno referred to personal relationship American Ambassador and “his family” and said he would wait to see whether such relationship would be established by Ambassador Allison. Informal singing after dinner.
- 3.
- Flight scheduled 10 o’clock today delayed approximately ½-hour because of mix-up at palace whether President’s son accompanying. As result we picked up Guntur and younger sister Megawati at school involving President’s cavalcade with myself in his car with him passing through most of city and being seen by members PKI headquarters among others standing out to wave at Sukarno. 2-hour flight was pleasant and uneventful but Sukarno noted US had provided flight as promised despite having lost Embassy plane. He said US ability to deliver despite setbacks would not be lost on others. Sukarno also said difficult in future for Communist press to criticize presence American amphibian in Indonesia after his public expression confidence in it. After flight he insisted on accompanying me to my house in his car with cavalcade which involved another parade through city streets.
Comment: I believe foregoing not unimportant. Sukarno set precedent in all three cases. While these demonstrations were in part flattering expressions personal friendship toward me personally as well as to “American Ambassador” political motive seldom absent Sukarno’s smallest actions. His motives were I believe in part to demonstrate both to US and to Indonesian public some balance his many recent expressions friendship for countries Soviet bloc. Despite political controversy now running [in] Indonesia in which Sukarno, PNI and PKI said to be arrayed against anti-Communist, religious parties, I do not believe this demonstration his friendship for American Ambassador necessarily disadvantageous either to ourselves or to anti-Communist forces here. Everyone recognizes that Sukarno wields enormous power. He is now lonesome because of unsolved domestic political troubles. If left alone Soviet, Red Chinese and local Reds will fill vacuum and I believe those who know Sukarno best here agree with me that everything we can do to keep alive his interest in things on other side worthwhile.