856E.00/6–2746: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Harriman)
5061. Brit Min MacKereth reportedly recently assured Sjahrir Indonesia would be far better off under international trusteeship than if Van Mook’s proposals accepted. MacKereth said to have added trusteeship would be Brit, Australia, US and Neth.
Please inquire discreetly FonOff whether views allegedly expressed by MacKereth are those of Brit Govt and whether his instructions name him as mediator or intermediary.91
For your strictly confidential info, source of report Cons Gen, Batavia adds92 it appears to him foregoing was MacKereth’s own idea and Foote doubts Brit Govt informed of this action. Foote feels MacKereth anti-Dutch and pro-Indonesian and not only assisted Sjahrir in drafting latest counter-proposals but influenced his decision on points thereof.
- In telegram 6453, July 3, 4 p.m., from Ambassador Harriman in London, the Department was informed of a talk with the British Assistant Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Dening). He said the British were now endeavoring to persuade both the Dutch and Indonesians to go back to the original position, as both were at fault for having departed from positions taken in the winter. The British were continuing to act only as go-betweens, not mediators, and felt direct negotiations had not yet been exhausted. (856E.00/7–346)↩
- In telegram 270, June 26, 3 p.m., not printed.↩