501.BC/7–2947
Memorandum by the Counselor (Bohlen) to the Secretary of State
The Indian Government has announced its intention of raising the Indonesian matter before the Security Council. When we have confirmation from New York that the matter has actually been officially presented to the Security Council, it would be desirable for Mr. Lovett to have a frank conversation with Van Kleffens, the Dutch Ambassador, in order to avoid any misunderstanding in regard to the U.S. position in the light of this new development. If the matter is to be kept out of extensive propaganda debate in the Security Council with widening repercussions throughout Southeast Asia and the Moslem world, it would be desirable for the U.S. to join the British in an offer of mediation to the Dutch. If this were accepted the representatives of the three countries could so state in the Security Council and forestall Security Council discussion for action pending the outcome of such mediation. It would be desirable if Mr. Lovett would be in a position to make this suggestion to Ambassador Van Kleffens, but in view of the President’s previous decision not to undertake joint good offices, it would be necessary to obtain his consent to such an offer from the U.S.
If you agree that it would be desirable to make this offer, would you be able to obtain Presidential approval?62
- The Secretary replied in the affirmative and added: “Draft brief statement of the case for President’s consideration, which he can OK GCM”.↩