856E.00/8–847: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Foote) to the Secretary of State
restricted
us urgent
Batavia, August 8,
1947—11 a.m.
315. Following is verbatim text of reply by Sjarifoeddin on behalf
Republican Government to our offer good offices. It was broadcast via
Radio Djocjakarta and handed to me late last night by Deputy Premier
Gani:
- “1. The Government and people of the Republic of Indonesia
heard with great gratitude and appreciation the broadcast
offer of the US Government to extend its good offices to the
Indonesian Government in any future negotiation in which the
Government of the Republic may be involved.
- 2. The Government of the Republic of Indonesia has the
honor to request the attention of the US Government to the
decision adopted by the Security Council of the UN. The
Republican Government in adhering to the principle of the UN
is fully prepared to submit to the aforementioned decisions,
in which arbitration has been recommended as the primary
means of settling the dispute. In cordially accepting the
good offices of the US Government, the Indonesian Government
requests that the US Government should use its influence
with the Government of The Netherlands and the Security
Council of the UN for the Indonesian proposal that an
international arbitration commission should be dispatched
without delay to Indonesia.
- 3. The Republic feels sure the Government of the US,
Britain and The Netherlands will all agree, in view of the
fact that 2 years of negotiation and mediation failed to
prevent the outbreak of large-scale hostilities, that in
arbitration by a UN commission lies the only and final hope
of settling this dispute by peaceful means.
- 4. The Government of the Republic is unanimous in its
conviction that if the US feels able to support the
aforementioned proposal, it will for the following reasons
be performing a lasting service to humanity:
-
a.
- The Government and of the Republic would [The Government of the Republic and
of the Netherlands could]84
agree to abide loyally by any decision reached by
the arbitration commission.
-
b.
- There is therefore strong reason to believe that
such an international commission would bring about a
lasting settlement.
-
c.
- The United Nations would thus be creating much
needed precedent to prove to the world that its
authority can stop wars and settle disputes.
- 5. Finally, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia
requests the U.S. Government to send a representative as
soon as possible by air to Djocjakarta in order that the
Republican Government may more fully acquaint the US
Government representative with its official point of
view.
- 6. The Republican Government would appreciate by radio
early advice of the US Government of the estimated time of
arrival of the representative of the US Government at
Djocjakarta airport.” (End of Indonesian
reply).
Tamzil, Republican Vice Minister Foreign Affairs, who present when
Indonesian reply handed me, invited my attention Sjarifoeddin’s speech
(mytel 309, August 685)
to effect Republican Cabinet will “soon name countries which Republic
desires to conduct arbitration”. These will probably be Australia, India
and other countries known to be friendly.
During the conversation, I gained impression Gani and Tamzil, and
probably Indonesian Cabinet at Djocja, have little conception of good
offices. Evidence is Tamzil said our offer did not contain specific
recommendations for settlement.
