856E.00/1–1746: Telegram

The Counsul General at Batavia (Foote) to the Secretary of State

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18. Sjahrir called in representatives of the press and read the following statement to them yesterday afternoon:

“On the eve of coming events I think I must say one or two words to make clear our present position. There have been discussions in London between the British and the Dutch about Indonesia. Much has been said about these talks. But it must be clear to everybody that we, Indonesians, cannot pay much heed to decisions made about us, without us.

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We have declared our independence and we consider our Republic as the true expression of our people’s will. No agreement secret or open concerning the position of our country can we consider as binding for us, unless we ourselves being one of the parties actively framing it.

Nevertheless we recognize the necessity of coming to an understanding with all parties interested in the destiny of Indonesia. We want a peaceful settlement of all difficulties raised by our struggle for freedom.

So we are anxious to consider every approach to our present position of a free nation.

We are willing to consider and to welcome R. [Dr.] Van Mook as the first envoy of a foreign but well-known country to discuss with us, we hope, in a most friendly way the Dutch interests and the Dutch point of view.

But we consider it necessary to point out that in times to come as a free nation living among all other free nations of the world, we cannot and we may not make fundamental difference between the Netherlands and the other nations of the world.

We are as eager to come to an agreement with the Netherlands about the Dutch interests in Indonesia as with England, the United States, Australia, China, France, et cetera, in fact with the whole world about their respective interests in our country.

We know that the geographical, economic and strategic position of our country lay great responsibility upon us to the entire world, especially to the countries in Southeast Asia and around the Pacific.

That’s why we think no settlement of our present problems with the outer world can be definitely reached, unless it is made by joint agreement of the United Nations and us, at least by the leading powers of this world organization—say, the US and Britain for our part of the world—with us and other parties involved.

We fervently hope that the United Nations, who are in session now in London can take steps in this direction. We are as interested in a quick and peaceful solution of our problems as everybody else.”

In connection with the above the Department’s attention is invited to my telegram No. 14, January 13. [14].28 Additional comments will follow in secret code.29

Foote
  1. Not printed.
  2. Telegram 19, January 19, 11 p.m.; see extract quoted in Department’s telegram 57, January 24, to The Hague, p. 801.