356E.115/6–2847: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Netherlands
320. View apparent deterioration situation Indonesia with possibility Dutch military action and retaliatory scorched earth policy by Indos emphasize to FonOff grave concern this Govt lest action be taken endangering American lives and threatening destruction American property. In particular sabotage Standard-Vacuum oil northwest of Palembang field would because of high pressure charactertics that field result its permanent and total loss, ruining American investment and depriving Dutch Indos and world of needed oil and valuable resource. U.S. fears that, even though Indos might give assurances of protection, action by irresponsible elements in face of threat of Dutch military move might result in irreparable damage to wells. Breaking of one cap on wells might result in uncontrollable fire.
AmConGen Batavia requested make similar representations Van “Mook and point out emphatically and clearly to Indos technical danger complete loss of fields in event of sabotage, and that US in view de facto Indonesian control looks to them to see field not harmed and that this to their interest as well as interest US and world.25
Sent Hague No. 320. Repeated Batavia as No. 175
- Telegram 445, June 29, 9 p.m., from The Hague, reported Foreign Office promise to send appropriate instructions to Batavia (856E.01/6–2947).↩