501.BC Indonesia/12–1947: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Australia
277. Urtel 317 Dec 1994 much appreciated by Dept. For your info. Dept unfavorably impressed by Australian tactics Dutch-Indo dispute as member GOC and SC. Although selected by Indos, Australians as members SC’s GOC expected to exhibit reasonable neutrality. Far from this being the case, Australian position both on GOC and in SC apparently designed to place Netherlands in embarrassing position with no benefit to operations GOC. For example, Australian delegation GOC proposed interpretation SC’s Nov 1 cease-fire order which they knew was unacceptable to Dutch for purposes, according to our info, of making issue its rejection in a report to SC. Another example Aus rep on SC took occasion discussion Australian continuance on GOC to criticize without documentation and without previous notification Dutch position and to blame Dutch alone for delays in reaching agreement cease-fire.
US Govt, as member GOC, determined to maintain essential neutrality in discharge of its responsibilities on that Committee, and therefore, cannot consider prejudicing Committee’s work by engaging in such unneutral act as getting SC to prod Dutch, as Burton95 suggested (last sentence urtel 317).
Dept. leaves your discretion decision as to extent and manner of communicating sense of foregoing to ExtAff, bearing in mind necessity GOC continuance in spirit unanimity. Dept hopes, however, that you will take opportunity to make such representations as will result in modification present Australian attitude.
Sent Canberra as 277. Repeated Batavia as 379.96