501.BC Indonesia/7–2248
The Secretary of State to the Pakistani Chargé (Baig)
Sir: I wish to acknowledge receipt of your note No. F 12/48/56, dated July 22,1 concerning the dispute between the Indonesia Republic and the Netherlands Government.
The United States Government shares the desire of the Pakistan Government that a peaceful, mutually satisfactory settlement of the Dutch-Indonesian Republic dispute be achieved at the earliest possible moment, whether under the auspices of the Good Offices Committee or through direct negotiations between the parties. Since the United States-Australian working paper was offered on a personal basis and not as an official proposal of the Good Offices Committee, the Department of State does not believe that its rejection by the Netherlands Government brings negotiations to a permanent standstill. As the Pakistan Government is doubtless aware, the Netherlands Delegation in Java is at the present time seeking new instructions from the Netherlands Government at The Hague. At the same time Mr. H. Merle Cochran has been appointed United States Delegate to the Good Offices Committee, replacing Mr. Dubois whose serious illness has required his return to the United States. The appointment of a diplomat of Mr. Cochran’s experience and stature reflects the confidence of the Department of State that substantive negotiations on a full scale can and will be resumed before the Good Offices Committee in August with favorable prospects of a successful conclusion.
Accept [etc.]