856E.00/7–3047
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State (Armour)
| Participants: | Mr. Norman Armour, Assistant Secretary for Political Affairs |
| Mr. Norman J. O. Makin, Australian Ambassador | |
| Mr. Alfred Stirling, Australian Minister | |
| Mr. John H. Morgan, Acting Chief, Division of Northern European Affairs |
The Australian Ambassador called on me this noon to inform the Department of the purposes of the Australian action in bringing the [Page 998] Indonesian question before the United Nations Security Council.64 The Ambassador read to me extracts from his telegram of instructions which indicated that the Australian Government desired to avoid any procedural discussions as to the jurisdiction of the Council since it felt that the Indonesian question was clearly a matter of international concern. It desired also to avoid any discussion of the merits of the case since there had been no United Nations’ investigation of the Indonesian situation. The Australian Government desired to see that hostilities cease at once and arbitration be undertaken at the earliest possible moment. It was, therefore, bringing the question before the Security Council under Article 39 of the United Nations Charter and with reference to Article 17 of the Linggadjati Agreement which provided for third party arbitration of disputes which might arise under that agreement.
The Ambassador stated that the Australian Government was anxious that we should understand the motives behind its action and hoped that it could count upon American cooperation.
I remarked that we were extremely anxious to see as prompt a settlement as possible of this dispute. In our consideration of the situation we had been thinking rather of Article 33 of Chapter 6 calling for pacific settlement than of Article 39. I read the former Article to the Ambassador who remarked that it seemed to have much the same end as was desired by the Australian Government but that it seemed clear from his instructions that the Australian Government was particularly concerned to bring about a prompt cessation of hostilities and for that reason, therefore, had invoked Article 39 rather than Article 33. The Ambassador then repeated his hope that our two governments would find it possible to cooperate toward the same end in this matter and expressed his personal desire to be helpful in this or other matters.
- Telegram 689, July 30, 5:05 p.m., from New York, reported that the Australian and Indian delegations had that afternoon submitted the Indonesian case to the United Nations Security Council under articles 39 and 34, respectively, of the Charter (501.BC/7–3047). For texts of letters, see United Nations, Official Records of the Security Council, Second Year, Supplement No. 16, pp. 149, 150. Hereafter cited as SC, 2nd yr., Suppl. 16.↩