501.BC Indonesia/4–2648: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Livengood) to the Secretary of State
347. Gocus 247. In line Usgoc 881 received April 23, USDel today submitted thousand word working paper to GOC on urgent desirability parties agreeing soonest time-table steps to be taken toward creation sovereign USI and Netherlands-Indo union. Paper expands arguments cited by Department in favor this constructive step and takes position whole process must be timed upon phase 1, which we construe as signing political agreement, including form USI and union, plus Republican entry provisional federal government. Paper also presents case to show there no room for doubt plebiscite or other means consulting popular will must be timed upon political not Renville Agreement. View absolute impossibility getting agreement this juncture even in GOC on specific target dates, paper proposes phase 1 as D-Day, phase 2 as D plus 6 months, phase 3 as D plus 9 months and phase 4 as D plus 11 months, stating that if GOC agrees, parties should be immediately approached informally with view their announcing agreement publicly on such time-table, following [Page 157] which they should give earliest attention assignment specific target dates to the four phases.
Paper explains time-table not meant retard tempo process toward final step which might well be accelerated. Also notes that if phase 1 accomplished by June 17, plebiscite could follow within year of Renville Agreement.
Appears possible parties may agree combining plebiscite or equivalent step with election Constituent Assembly.
Some evidence Republicans as well as AusDel swinging away from plebiscites in favor delineation states by Constituent Assembly and even that some Republican figures coming consider whole question of number and area states not of primary importance if USI to be truly sovereign.
Department pass The Hague.2