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

248. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Netherlands⁰

Washington, March 12, 1962, 8:52 p.m.

767. Based on several exchanges with both sides, Department believes we can now proceed effect arrangements for preliminary secret talks. Addressee posts should therefore convey following information at appropriate high level, urging acceptance in most persuasive manner.

1) Place: Private estate one hour from Washington capable of handling twenty people or maximum eight from either side. If asked you may state Department making this facility available at no cost to Indonesians or Dutch.

2) Date: March 20th.

3) Third Party: Ellsworth Bunker, former US Ambassador to Argentina, Italy and India.¹

4) We would view any aggressive or hostile moves or statements during talks with utmost seriousness. We feel special responsibility see that negotiations are held in atmosphere free of military threats and one in which existing status quo would remain unchanged.

Addressee posts should cable niact upon obtaining acceptance of above arrangements.² You may also state that we are informing U Thant of substance this message and, upon acceptance both sides, will request him invite Bunker perform third party role of moderator, and issue formal invitation both sides meet in accordance above arrangements.

For USUN: You should seek appropriate opportunity fill U Thant in on substance this message and request his approval in principle. You should also indicate we expect call on him issue invitations indicated above in near future.³

Every effort should be made for time being maintain absolute secrecy. We envisage no public announcement re preliminary talks although we recognize fact of talks will undoubtedly become known.

Ball

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 656.9813/3–1262. Secret; Niact. Drafted by Stone; cleared by Bell, Rice, Tyler, and Sisco; and approved by McGhee. Also sent niact to Djakarta as telegram 1012 and repeated priority to USUN and to Baguio for Harriman, who was attending a conference of U.S. Far Eastern Ambassadors.
1. On March 12, Ball telephoned Bunker and asked him to perform “a delicate and important task.” Ball told Bunker he was one of the few people on which both sides could agree. Bunker agreed. (Memorandum of telephone conversation, March 12; Kennedy Library, Ball Papers, Telephone Conversations, Indonesia)
2. This was done, according to telegrams 1633 from Djakarta and 679 from The Hague, both March 13. (Department of State, Central Files, 656.9813/3–1362)
3. This was done, according to telegram 3067 from USUN, March 14. U Thant was surprised to learn he had a role in initiating the talks as both sides gave him to believe that the United Nations was not going to be involved. (Ibid., 656.9813/3–1462)