501.BC Indonesia/9–2247: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Foote) to the Secretary of State
16
confidential
us urgent
Batavia, September
22, 1947—11 p.m.
372. Following for Security Council from Consular Commission, Batavia:
- “1. Although investigations cannot be regarded as complete
until reports can be received from all military observers,
commission has unanimously reached certain definite and
inevitable conclusions after visits by members to 11
different Dutch and Indonesian controlled areas in Java and
Sumatra since the commission began its work on September 1.
In view of the urgency of the problem we think these should
be transmitted to you without delay and very concisely for
your advance information.
- 2. Advances by Netherlands troops between July 20 and
August 4 were in the nature of spearheads and some fighting
occurred. While the main bodies of Republican troops in most
areas retreated, considerable numbers of Republican troops
remained between the spearheads in some areas and guerillas
remained in all areas. The Indonesian scorched earth policy
and other disturbances, including looting and heavy loss of
life especially of Chinese, were intensified between and
behind the spearheads during and after the Dutch advance. On
August 29 the NEI Government
declared its intention to ‘complete restoration of law and
order and the complete disarmament and winding up of all
armed organizations’ opposing NEI authority within a demarcation line
covering Dutch advanced positions. The Indonesians did not
accept the Dutch demarcation line. The Dutch line entailed
patrol and other activities which were regarded by the
Indonesians as
[Page 1052]
hostile movements. Patrol clashes and sniping result without
diminution notwithstanding the cease fire order.
- 3. We find that the cease fire order is not fully
effective, and that casualties and damage continue and that
this state of affairs is due in the main to the situation
described above. So long as this situation continues it will
be impossible to secure anything like complete observance of
the cease fire.
- 4. We have so far been unable to discover any practical
interim measures which would secure a more effective
observance of the cease fire or reduce casualties.
- 5. As the work of the Commission is not yet completed, it
is requested that these advance conclusions may be regarded
as confidential.
- 6. Consular mission hopes to complete written report on or
about September 30.[”]
Please pass to Security Council earliest possible moment.
