856E.00/8–1247: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul General at Batavia (Foote)94
us urgent
niact
221. On July 31 Under Secy Lovett informed Amb van Kleffens of this Govt’s disposition to be helpful and its readiness to exercise its good offices in the hope that it might help compose the difficulties concerning Indonesia. Amb Herschel Johnson informed the Security Council of this offer the same day. On Aug 1 Van Kleffens informed the Council of the Netherlands acceptance of our good offices and this was subsequently confirmed by the Netherlands FonMin.
Having made this offer to the sovereign power and having obtained its acceptance, we endeavored locate properly authenticated representatives of Indos and we instructed the Amer Consul General at Batavia on Aug 4 to offer our good offices to the Indonesian authorities wherever he might be able to contact them. As there was some difficulty in getting into touch with them the Consul General broadcast this Govt’s offer to the Indonesian authorities on Aug 6 and 7. On Aug 7 the Indonesian authorities broadcast a reply stating that they accepted the offer of good offices of the US Govt but at the same time requesting this Govt to use its influence with the Govt of the Netherlands and the Security Council in favor of the Indonesian proposal that an International Arbitration Commission be dispatched without delay to Indonesia.
As it appeared that the Indonesians misunderstood the nature of our offer, on Aug 8 the Amer Consul General at Batavia was instructed to proceed to Jogjakarta by plane and repeat our offer to Indo authorities in its original terms, explaining at the same time that object of our good offices was to bring the two parties together with the least possible delay to work out between themselves an equitable settlement to the present difficulties. Mr. Foote was further directed to explain that we did not contemplate participation by other states in the exercise of our good offices.
On Aug 11 the Indonesian authorities informed Mr. Foote that they accepted the US offer of good offices in principle but they introduced a condition again by stating that they desired arbitration by Security Council.
It appears that Indos, perhaps from a misunderstanding of the nature of our tender of good offices, have in effect rejected this Govt’s [Page 1029] offer since they did not wish to use good offices for purpose intended by us, that is, to bring both parties together without delay to work out equitable solution between themselves. The US made its offer in conformity with the well-known international understanding of the term, i.e. that a tender of good offices is an attempt to induce negotiation between disputants.
In order that there may be no possibility of any misunderstanding existing on this matter pls ascertain at once from Indos whether they are unwilling to use our good offices to enter into discussions with the Dutch as to the means of attaining a settlement of the dispute. The Neth Govt has indicated its willingness to arrange through direct negotiation for a settlement as proposed by the US. If therefore the Indos are willing to accept as the Neth has done the good offices of the US in bringing about direct negotiation, the US will be glad to pursue the matter further. If on the other hand the Indos insist on specifying a particular method of settlement as they have heretofore done without taking into account whether it would be acceptable to the other party, our offer of good offices necessarily lapses. The US would in that event have no alternative other than to inform the Neth Govt and the Security Council that the Indo authorities have not accepted our offer.
You are instructed to inform Vice Premier Gani at once of the foregoing, requesting him to take urgent steps to obtain an immediate reply from his Govt. You should assure him at the same time of our continuing interest in a peaceful solution of the problem and of our desire to be helpful.
For your info Dept plans release this message to press immediately following its delivery to Gani. Your report of delivery should therefore be sent with utmost urgency.95
- Repeated to the Hague in telegram 411 and to New York in 351.↩
- Telegram 331, August 16, noon, from Batavia (856E.00/8–1647), reported delivery made on August 16 except for a missing section of telegram 221. The latter was repeated on August 17 to Batavia. For the Department’s press release on August 16, see Department of State Bulletin, August 24, 1947, p. 397.↩