356E.115/7–1047: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Foote) to the Secretary of State 44
secret
Batavia, July 10,
1947—4 p.m.
267. Indo Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Gani, and Vice Minister Foreign Affairs, Dr. Tamzil, called personally last evening and left following aide-mémoire with me in reply my verbal representations as per Department’s telegram 175, June 28:41
- “1. Government of the Republic with all the power and the implements at their disposal will safeguard the lives and property of American nationals present in the de facto territory of the Republic.
- 2. On account of oil being vital for necessities of life to the community in this country, renewed instructions have been issued in order that the oil wells and refineries remain constantly in good care, no matter what events may occur in the future.
- 3. The Government of the Republic are fully aware that oil wells with high pressure such as oil wells situated northwest of Palembang are difficult to fix up again once having been damaged and that such a situation will result in loss for all parties concerned.
- 4. However, in case the Dutch conduct large scale operations in the vicinity of the oil wells and refineries by employing artillery and bombs, then the Dutch should be held responsible.”
Foote