Office of the Historian

227. Telegram From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State0

Djakarta, February 12, 1962, 10 p.m.

1424. Eyes only for Rusk and the President. From Robert Kennedy. Sukarno and FonMin intent on discussing WNG so need guidance on approach. For purposes my discussions here would like to have your best estimate answers to following questions:

1)
If Indos agree to sit down for discussion on WNG problem without pre-conditions, would the Dutch then be prepared to transfer WNG to Indonesia? If not, how far would they be willing to go? What would be our position at that juncture?
2)
If Indos willing to do above, but the Dutch then refuse any meaningful arrangements for transfer WNG, would this strengthen US support for Indo position and if so what form would stronger support take?

I do not at all feel that Deptel 892 to Djakarta1 answers questions posed my telegram from Hong Kong re Dutch attitudes WNG. I would appreciate answer to request for detailed analysis present Dutch position.2 Also analysis of how far they are willing to go and under what conditions.

Guidance on these matters as well as any other suggestions would be most helpful to me particularly over period next six days.

Jones
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 656.9813/2–1262. Secret; Niact. Received at 10:45 a.m.↩
  2. Telegram 239 to Singapore (Document 226) was repeated to Djakarta as telegram 892.↩
  3. In telegram 813 from Hong Kong, February 11, Robert Kennedy first requested a detailed current summary of the Netherlands view of West New Guinea and their arguments used to counter Indonesian views. In telegram 607 to Hong Kong, February 11, the Department noted that there was no indication that the Netherlands Government would fall on the West New Guinea issue and Kennedy should dissuade the Indonesians from hoping that a change of government would help their cause. The Netherlands wanted to leave West New Guinea, but no Netherlands Government would accept “humiliation” in the process. (Both in Department of State, Central Files, 656.9813/2–1162) It is unclear if Robert Kennedy by this time had seen telegram 607, but it would not have answered his questions in any case.↩