856E.00/12–3045: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Netherlands (Hornbeck) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:58 p.m.]
338. British Ambassador and Netherlands officials who attended conference in London returned to Hague yesterday. In afternoon Ambassador expressed himself to me as highly satisfied with results of conference.
In evening, Dr. Van Mook and Ministers Van Royen43 and Logemann, dining with me, each separately expressed himself to same effect.
Van Mook said he could now return to Batavia with assurance as to policy under which and instrumentalities with which he and other responsible authorities should and can function. He expects to leave for post probably Jan 3; and he hopes that he and associates will within a few weeks have the situation well in hand.
In course of conversation Logemann stated Netherlands Cabinet fully realized that political complexities prevented US from active military participation in Indies even though US as one of Allies [Page 1190] shared in decision assigning to SEAC responsibility for accepting Jap surrender and restoring law and order in Islands but he added US could help in other ways, for instance, providing shipping (which he said British were unable to do) to assist evacuation of some 50,000 civilian internees which it had been decided to transport to Holland within next three months and aiding in provisioning approximately another 50,000 who elect to remain in Indies. He also added that Dutch would like to have Allied Supreme Commander in Far East, whose responsibility it was and not that of SEAC, which he repeated for emphasis, expedite repatriation of remaining 350,000 Japanese troops to Japan.
Van Royen gave me in confidence copy of policy statement44 drafted by Netherlands Cabinet and taken to London which had formed basis of discussion with British. He has mailed a copy to Netherlands Ambassador. We are mailing Dept a copy. Van Royen requested we treat this as top secret.
Sent to Dept; repeated London as 37.