501.BC Indonesia/4–1148: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Livengood) to the Secretary of State
285. Gocus No. 224. In conversation with Stuyt April 10, USDel adviser reported discussions held at lunch previous day with Roem and advisers (our telegram 223, April 10) and noted evidence current [Page 145] psychological impasse in which each party reluctant take real step toward cooperation through mistrust of other, this relating to problem not only full implementation truce but also Republic’s attitude toward discussion interim arrangements. We stated we thoroughly appreciated Dutch reluctance take any risks while important Republic elements ignoring truce and Republic Government showing little disposition take corrective steps but that since Dutch held major power Indonesia, initiative in breaking impasse would probably have to come from them. We urged Netherlands Delegation give most favorable possible consideration to release Republic military and political prisoners and to easing restrictions on freedom speech, assembly and press, which appear very repressive as set forth in newly submitted Republic working paper on relevant ordinances NEI Government. We also called attention frequent Republic reports of native praus seized or fired on along coast or in Republic harbors by Dutch naval ships and emphasized dangerous source friction such incidents represent.
Stuyt thought Netherlands would agree in subcommittee considering POWs to release 1000 of approximately 3000 Republic military prisoners now held. He also stated he would produce directive NEI Government under which enforcement restrictive laws on speech, assembly and publication not so onerous as laws themselves would indicate. Regarding Republic shipping, he said Netherlands forced retain right inspection in order control trade and shipment of arms, both internal and external. We replied we understood Netherlands must retain means controlling trade with other countries, which could be accomplished by patrols operating well off shore, but that it seemed to us that shipping between Republic ports, whether of arms or goods, could not be of great importance to Netherlands and might well be permitted, thus obviating necessity Netherlands patrols operating close Republic coast and in Republic harbors. Regarding all these issues, we considered liberal attitude on part Netherlands would entail no great sacrifices and might pay them some dividends. We stressed that while top Republic leaders now reasonably confident Netherlands intentions, Netherlands had still to make single really significant gesture friendship to Republic or confidence truce to which Republic leaders could point in attempting persuade followers that Netherlands to be trusted, that Netherlands had yet to match token of confidence given by Republic in evacuating 35,000 troops (which is latest Republic figure).
Stuyt replied he personally inclined liberal attitude, but Vredenburch and Riphagen regarded generous gestures as wholly useless so far as effecting change attitude Republic adherents concerned but might agree they worth trying as means strengthening our hand in dealing with Republic.
[Page 146]At end conversation, we brought up reported plans for “Sundakapa” state substantiated by a Netherlands item April 10 announcing formation committee called “Panitita Daerahid Temewadgakarta” to seek special status for Batavia. He [We] said any move by NEI Government toward further fragmentation West Java this juncture would, with respect stage current negotiations and of GOC report to SC on West Java, now being drafted, be inconceivably ill timed and could be interpreted only as serious political bungling or act calculated cynicism. Stuyt said he had heard nothing of plans for new state but would investigate.
Note: Information requested in Usgoc 86, April 8, contained in part in recent GOCUS telegrams. If Department considers points made in above conversation reasonable, we believe similar informal approach to Dutch in Washington and Hague could be most helpful in event we fail make headway here.
Department please pass Hague.1
- This was done April 13.↩