Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Far East, Volume VIII

856E.00/2–946: Telegram

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

restricted
us urgent

Batavia, February 9, 1946—noon.
[Received February 12—3:42 p.m.]

47. Van Mook informed me that a statement of policy will be released probably in the afternoon February 10.

The document quotes the Queen’s speech of December 6, 1942, and says the Government of the Netherlands declare it to be their considered policy that the people of Indonesia must eventually decide freely their political destiny.

Fully conscious of their responsibility, the Government of the Netherlands consider it to be their duty to do everything in their power to create or to fulfill as soon as possible the conditions which will make such a free decision possible and acceptable internationally thereby acquitting themselves of their obligation under article 73 of the Charter of the United Nations.

At the same time, the Netherlands Govt express as their conviction that finally the well being of the country and of the several peoples thereof will be best served by the voluntary continuation of commonwealth in which the Netherlands, Indonesia, Surinam, and Curaçao will participate with complete self-reliance and freedom of conduct regarding its internal affairs but with readiness to render mutual assistance.

With this in view, the Netherlands Government propose to consult with representative leaders of Indonesia elected from all important parts and groups and to plan together a new organization of the Kingdom and of Indonesia, which will be based on democratic partnership.

This new organization is to be maintained for a limited period believed to suffice for the fulfillment of the conditions for the free decision refered to above. At the end of this period, the partners shall decide independently about the continuation of their [relations] on the basis of a then complete and voluntary partnership, any difference of opinion as to the question whether the period should be extended before a free decision is possible, shall be solved by a procedure of conciliation or, if necessary, by arbitration.

The consultation referred to above will cover the following main points:

1. There shall be a Commonwealth of Indonesia, a partner in the Kingdom; the Commonwealth shall consist of countries with a varying measure of self-government.

2. An Indonesian citizenship shall be established for all those born in Indonesia; Netherlands citizens and Indonesian citizens shall exercise full civic rights in all parts of kingdom.

3. The internal affairs of the Commonwealth of Indonesia shall be entrusted to the administrative organization of the Commonwealth itself. For the Commonwealth as a whole are suggested a representation of the people (Parliament), constituted in a democratic way and, therefore, containing a substantial majority of Indonesian members; a Cabinet consisting Ministers who are in political agreement with the representative body; and a representative of the Crown as head of the government.

4. The constitution, which shall embody this new organization, shall furthermore guarantee the fundamental rights such as freedom of religion, equality before the law without regard to creed or race, protection of life and property, independence of the judicature, protection of the rights of minorities, freedom of education, freedom of opinion and of the expression thereof.

5. In order to be in a position to fulfill the obligations imposed upon the Kingdom by article 73 of the Charter of the United Nations, the representative of the Crown, under the authority and responsibility of the Government of the Kingdom, shall have special powers to guarantee the fundamental rights, a sound administration and sound finance; these special powers are only to be applied if these rights and interests are violated.

6. The central governmental organizations having authority over the Kingdom as a whole, shall be composed of representatives of all the parts of the Kingdom. A Cabinet for the whole kingdom is suggested, consisting of Ministers from all parts of the Kingdom and legislation for the Kingdom, to be enacted in conformity with the Parliaments of those parts.

7. After the new organization will have become operative, the Netherlands Government shall promote a speedy adoption of the Commonwealth of Indonesia as a member of the United Nations Organization.

Full text by air mail.⁵⁰

Foote

50. In despatch 18, March 22, from Batavia, the Consul General transmitted texts of documents exchanged between the Dutch and Indonesians on February 10 and March 14, respectively (856E.00/3–2246).