856E.00/1–1946: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Netherlands (Hornbeck)34
57. Following is extract of Batavia’s 19, Jan 19: “The 3 weeks’ lull in Batavia shattered yesterday with news States General sending committee to investigate Van Mook’s conduct of NEI affairs.35 British military alarmed and regard move as error, delaying if not killing hopes of Dutch-Indo compromise, weakening Sjahrir’s and other moderates’ position and strengthening hands extremists. Sjahrir’s statement he would receive Van Mook only as envoy of foreign government was not regarded as important but as typical oriental bargaining. As delay continues Sjahrir becoming more nervous, Soekarno more fiery, and extremists of east and central Java more threatening in regards safety of thousands internees, chiefly women, children who cannot be rescued and who may be butchered if rescue attempted. British military say this greatest problem facing them. Sjahrir has personal bravery and is trying gain more Indo support for his moderate ideas but current news and continued delays weaken his hand.
Up to present nearly every British statement or action has played into or favored Indo’s hands, local British military are openly anti-Dutch, bad feeling here between British and Dutch is wide and deep but may improve, world press appears favor Indos despite fact that about 20,000 already butchered. These facts and recent news from Netherlands have weakened Van Mook’s hands and aroused deep wave of pessimism re future of Java and Sumatra. [Foote]”
- Repeated to London as telegram 821.↩
- Telegram 76, January 18, from The Hague, reported that a proposal by a Catholic member of the Netherlands Second Chamber to send a commission composed of parliamentary members to investigate prevailing conditions in the East Indies had been voted by 49 to 30, despite opposition of the Minister of Overseas Territories (856E.00/1–1846).↩