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

501.BC Indonesia/12–647: Telegram

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

secret

Batavia, December 6, 1947—10 a.m.

510. From Graham No. 47. Following are chief matters concern re future GOC:

1. Apart USDel, GOC in no sense Good Offices Committee as it might have been had each of three members been agreed upon by both parties. Austrian [Australian] delegation and Belgian delegation are protagonists Republic and Netherlands point of view respectively and on crucial points are proving nearly as uncompromising as parties themselves. Such partisanship openly acknowledged by Kirby who has several times stated that unless decisions GOC can be reached majority vote, GOC may as well go home. USDel has taken view that if member in minority is willing accept majority, decision can be offered as GOC decision but that manifestly decision by two members cannot be so offered if third member disassociates itself. USDel will continue and increase efforts bring other two delegations together.

2. If Republic authority is in fact crumbling as may be possible, GOC may come to have appearance giving sanction to severe truncation or virtual demise one of parties. Consider responsibility such denouement might be laid at door US by nationalist groups throughout Far East.

3. Other hand, if Republic’s power survival not vitally impaired, then ability GOC effect settlement highly problematic view situation noted paragraph 1 and fact conversations Netherlands and Republic representatives make obvious they not only poles apart but living different worlds. [Graham.]

Livengood