856E.00/11–2045: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
10147. Urtel 11701 and 11926.26 We appreciate info given you by Bennett with regard to Brit position in Netherlands Indies and understand difficulties involved.
Since Indies are primarily Brit zone of military responsibility and continuing confusion of events there renders any accurate judgment extremely difficult, we have not desired to take any early or premature action in regard to the situation. It seems evident, however, that further deterioration of situation in Indies cannot fail to have an unfavorable effect on general situation in East Asia. In your discretion, therefore, you may inquire of Bennett whether British feel it might be helpful for our Amb at The Hague informally to approach appropriate Netherlands officials and inform them of our feeling that indefinite continuation of present dissension in Indies may have such widespread consequences that a broad-minded and positive approach to problem is essential and that we hope Dutch will actively continue discussions with leaders of all Indonesian factions with a view to negotiating at least a provisional settlement at as early a date as possible.
- Latter not printed.↩