856E.00/1–1846
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Northern European, Affairs (Cumming)
Dr. Loudon called on me this morning by appointment made at his request. He said that he had been instructed to communicate the following to the Department orally:
In a public statement dated December 19th 1945 the Acting Secretary [Page 799] of State expressed “that 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”. It was stated moreover that the sole desire of the United States “is to see such peaceful settlement achieved as will best promote world stability and prosperity and the happiness of people”. The statement went on to say that “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”. In the concluding sentence of the fifth paragraph of the statement it was said that “extremist or irresponsible action—or failure to present or consider specific proposals can lead only to a disastrous situation”.
It is supposed that from the above can be deduced that the United States Government is interested in constructive proposals tending to achieve a solution as envisaged in the aforementioned paragraph five of the statement of December 19.
Recently, the Netherlands Government has unofficially informed the State Department of a specific, constructive and far reaching plan endeavouring to achieve a peaceful solution with regard to the situation in the Netherlands East Indies and to be presented to the Indonesian leaders as a basis for discussions.
It is submitted that if, in the interest of the solution of problems that are of vital importance to the entire world, the constructiveness of the plan should be publically recognized upon its publication by the Netherlands Government, earnest consideration of the plan by Indonesian leaders will be greatly promoted, while at the same time the present state of unrest may well be remedied.
On the other hand it is to be feared that the absence of any public acknowledgement of the constructiveness of the specific proposals as presented to the Indonesian leaders, will encourage further extremist and irresponsible action and consequently impede the responsible Indonesian leaders, apart from the danger of a continuance if not further deterioration of the present situation.
I recalled to the Ambassador that last week both Mr. Hickerson and I, and again on January 15 at dinner at the Netherlands Embassy, the Acting Secretary had told him that the Department could not commit itself now to making any comment on the Dutch proposals when they were made public and in fact doubted both the propriety and the wisdom of any such comment. I said that in view of this I could only say that I would take note of his oral communication and pass it on to my superiors for their information and consideration at the time the Dutch proposals were released to the public.
The Ambassador seemed to be perfectly satisfied with my reply.30
- In telegram 72, January 18, from The Hague, Ambassador Hornbeck reported a conversation with the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, who stated his Government hoped both the American and British Governments would be willing to make favorable public statements in regard to the Netherlands policy statement. He stated also that the London conferences had resulted in British reaffirmation of the Chequers position on the East Indies. (856E.00/1–1846)↩