501.BC Indonesia/6–1448: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Batavia1
us urgent
niact
260. Usgoc 108. Dept attaches utmost importance to maintenance of personal confidential and informal character Dubois-Critchley [Page 246] working paper proposals and has been disturbed to learn Time has recd from its correspondent in Batavia some account of them. It of course does not wish any publicity to occur but even if it should, Dept nevertheless would be unalterably opposed to the inclusion of any reference being made to these proposals in any report which the GOC may make to the UN.
Another matter on which Dept holds strong opinion is that GOC as name implies should not in any way constitute itself as an arbitral body. It was constituted to lend its good offices as and when needed in assisting the disputants to reach amicable settlement. If the parties can reach amicable settlement at any time without the benefit of intermediary action on the part of the GOC, Dept would wholeheartedly welcome it. Dept is most anxious that Hatta–Van Mook conversations which it understands from press will begin on Wed shall succeed. It therefore does not regard Hatta-Van Mook conversations as untoward development to be checkmated (see penultimate sentence third from last para Gocus 300, June 82) and trusts USDel to ensure that both Van Mook and Hatta understand the basis of this Govt’s acceptance of invitations extended by the Govts of the countries of their nomination to participate on GOC as the one member not designated to represent either party.