856E.00/8–1247: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Foote) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
323. Continuation my telegram 322. Re last para, Dept 216, inquired many times re status powers and duties both Sjahrir and Salim before obtaining adequate answer. Soekarno said they instructed continue demands for arbitration in Security Council. Since that answer did not satisfy me, I again asked several times later. Soekarno then said they instructed contact Australian and Indian delegates in Security Council and Sjahrir especially instructed propagate Republic’s cause [Page 1023] by any possible means in Council, to US Govt and to anyone who would listen. He used Dutch word “verdedigen” which means “to defend”. Following are Soekarno’s exact words: “Sjahrir is not accredited to anyone but is merely advocate of Indonesian cause. He and Salim are both advocates especially in Security Council which is now discussing Indonesian question”. Sjarifoeddin then left room and returned with copy Sjahrir’s instructions which he let me read. In effect they merely said “advocate our cause wherever possible to anyone who listens”.
In brief, Soekarno and Sjarifoeddin said Sjahrir and Salim not accredited to any organization or government; they merely to propagate Republic’s cause and have no power make agreements or reach decisions. Continued mytel 325.91
Dept pass London, Hague.