Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Far East, Volume VI

501.BC Indonesia/11–747: Telegram

The Consul General at Batavia (Livengood) to the Secretary of State

Batavia, November 7, 1947.

437. From Graham 20. “The Representative of Australia and the Representative of Belgium on the Security Council Committee of Good Offices have in their capacity as members of the Committee asked me, as a representative of the United States, to request the Government of the United States to make available to the Committee a public ship of the United States as a meeting place between the Committee and both parties at which the substantive aspects of their dispute are to be discussed.

Before the Australian and Belgian representatives formally made this request, the Committee exhaustively explored with both parties every feasible land site in or near Indonesia. None of these sites was mutually agreeable to the parties.

In arriving at its decision to request the Government of the United States to make available to it a public ship, the Committee took into account the fact that the Security Council resolution of the first of November 1947, makes it incumbent upon the Committee to remain in close contact with the Consular Commission located at Batavia and with the Commission’s military aides.

After it had become unmistakably clear that no suitable land site was mutually agreeable to the parties, both parties requested the Committee to offer its own suggestion as regards a common meeting place for the holding of the substantive discussions. At this point, the Committee normally [formally?] suggested as a last resort, that the substantive discussions commence on board a public ship of the United States if such were available. At the same time, the Committee informed both parties that if this suggestion were acceptable, the Committee was prepared to request the Government of the United States to make available to the Committee at any early date such a ship in Java waters.

The parties have now formally indicated that they will accept a ship procured through the auspices of the Committee as a meeting place for the substantive discussions. The Belgian and Australian representatives in their capacity as members of the Committee have now formally asked me, as United States Representative, to ascertain whether the Government of the United States will provide a suitable ship to the Committee. I have acceded to this request and herewith transmit it, adding my own that the Department give it most favorable consideration. Finally, it is the intention of the Committee, if the Government of the United States replies affirmatively to this request, to address a communication to the President of the Security Council setting forth its decision as to a meeting place. Signed Frank P. Graham.”⁴²

[Livengood]

42. Telegram 328, November 21, 5 p.m., to Batavia (No. 23 for Dr. Graham), reported that the Navy had arranged for a ship to be there on or about December 2, to be used as a meeting place (501.BC–Indonesia/11–2147).