501.BC–Indonesia/10–2547: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Acting Secretary of State
urgent
1087. 1. I have carefully considered the draft position telephoned to us yesterday on the Indonesian case. I am in general agreement insofar as it relates to substance but have serious doubts regarding the proposed tactics.
2. If we are to admit, as I agree that we ought, that the report makes clear that the establishment of the Van Mook line was one cause of violation of our cease-fire resolution, and the report certainly indicates it was a major cause, it seems to me it would be far preferable from the tactical point of view for us to take the initiative and to propose mild changes in our own resolution to clarify the meaning of our original cease-fire resolution. We cannot well argue against a clarification of the Council’s original resolution when the report so clearly indicates that differing interpretations of it are responsible for most of the continuing hostilities. I feel that by taking the initiative and putting forward a mild proposal we would obtain considerable credit for taking an honest and courageous stand and at the same time would substantially reduce the pressure to take a stronger stand. We might well avoid, in so doing, being forced to accept a much stronger resolution which might not facilitate the Good Offices Committee’s work.
3. Furthermore, I have already stated in my speech at the last meeting “it may be advantageous for the Council to make certain that all concerned have a clear understanding of the general principle underlying the Council’s cease-fire order. In the view of my Government, the Council’s cease-fire order cannot be interpreted to permit the use of the armed forces of either party by military action to alter substantially the area under its control”. In view of the nature of the report, it would be extremely difficult for me to refuse to place in our resolution the substance of the last sentence quoted above. Since this is the case, I see advantages in taking the initiative to do so and thereby earning some credit.
4. As regards the third paragraph of the Department’s memorandum, I also feel, particularly in view of the discussions we have had here with the British, Chinese, Brazilians and Dutch, that it would be useful for us to propose a revision of our own resolution which would be less rigid and more practicable.
[Page 1061]5. I am sending under separate telegram for your consideration a revised draft US resolution, together with a draft statement which I might use either at the meeting on Monday or the following meeting.