501.BC Indonesia/4–2148: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Livengood) to the Secretary of State
secret
Batavia, April
21 [22?], 1948—11 a. m.
333. Gocus 241. Further Gocus 239,1 Vredenburch and Riphagen in answer to questions by member USDel offered following clarifications Netherlands delegate working paper on structure Union:
- 1.
- “Round table conference” would be study group to prepare draft statute and present to parliaments both partners for ratification. Indonesian delegate would also have representatives of minorities if minorities not otherwise adequately represented by representatives various territories.
- 2.
- Those parts Indonesia not joining USI would have special relationship to Netherlands envisaged Linggadjati and would not become integral part of Netherlands. Result this relationship would be formation United Kingdom of Netherlands as other partner in Union in place Netherlands.
- 3.
- Union’s guaranteeing sound administration in two parts Union does not mean interference in domestic affairs either part by Union.
- 4.
- Organs of Union would be, among others, Council of Union Ministers, Defense Council and Union Court Justice. Other organs would be established when desirable.
- 5.
- Union participation in international intercourse means diplomatic representation as well as participation in international organizations. It does not mean that Union would have diplomatic representation where partners had such representation. In event partners unrepresented, Union representative could act for them. Measure principally one of economy.
- 6.
- In reply to question re provision for Netherlands forces in Indonesia and vice versa, Vredenburch said quite confidentially that Netherlands believes substantial Netherlands forces required during early period USI to strengthen USI position in this difficult period, but that thereafter Netherlands had no intention and in fact would not be able have more than a small group, 10,000 or 15,000 men, in Indonesia. Bases and air installations would be required however in state of readiness, not necessarily for internal purposes. He believes Netherlands people would never send large forces to Indonesia to keep internal order.
- 7.
- Re Union Court Justice, Vredenburch said Netherlands delegate was anxious establish regular procedure for settling of legal problems in a Union system of courts and that they were most anxious not to have the ICJ thought of as a normal situs for settling such cases between partners although of course in special cases ICJ could be resorted to.
Dept pass Hague.2
Livengood