856E.00/12–1945: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul General at Batavia (Foote)35

29. Dept. issued following press statement today:

“In bringing to a conclusion the war against Japan there was assigned to the South East Asia Command, on behalf of the Allies, the [Page 1183] responsibility of accepting the Japanese surrender in the Netherlands East Indies, of disarming and removing the Japanese forces, of securing the surrender of Japanese equipment, of liberating or repatriating Allied prisoners of war, and of assuring the safety of more than 100,000 civilians, the majority of them women and children, who had been interned by the Japanese.

The carrying out of this mandate has been complicated by the differences between Indonesians and the Netherlands authorities. It has been necessary in connection with the Allied objectives for the troops under the South East Asia Command to assure such order as is necessary for their execution.

In connection with the responsibilities relating to the surrender of the Japanese in the Netherlands East Indies there was no thought so far as the United States was concerned of extending the allied mandate beyond these specific responsibilities.

The United States Government has viewed with increasing concern recent developments in the Netherlands East Indies. It had hoped that conversations between the Indonesians and the Netherlands authorities would have resulted in a peaceful settlement recognizing alike the natural aspirations of the Indonesian peoples and the legitimate rights and interests of the Netherlands. There has apparently been a cessation of these conversations.

The United States recognizes that the primary responsibility for arriving at agreement lies with the Netherlands authorities, as representatives of the territorial sovereign, and the Indonesian leaders. The United States cannot fail, however, to be deeply interested in the solution which may be achieved of problems that are of vital importance to the entire world. Our sole desire is to see such peaceful settlement achieved as will best promote world stability and prosperity and the happiness of people. Such a settlement can be attained only through a realistic, broad-minded and cooperative approach on the part of all concerned and a will to reconcile differences by peaceful means. Extremist or irresponsible action—or failure to present or consider specific proposals can lead only to a disastrous situation.

The United States earnestly hopes that all parties in the Netherlands Indies will see the necessity of an early resumption of conversations looking toward a peaceful solution of the conflict in the Netherlands East Indies which will be in harmony with the principles and ideals of the Charter of the United Nations Organization36 and of the United Nations Declaration37 under which victory over the Axis was achieved.”

Text of statement has been telegraphed to Embassies London and The Hague for information of Foreign Ministers.

Acheson
  1. Repeated to London as No. 10913 and to The Hague as No. 206.
  2. Signed at San Francisco, June 26, 1945; for text, see 59 Stat (pt. 2) 1031, or Department of State Treaty Series No. 993.
  3. January 1, 1942; Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. i, p. 25.