501.BC Indonesia/9–848: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Batavia1
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408. Usgoc 135. Dept approves in general plan set forth Gocus 3662 and 3673 and congratulates you on plan and analysis situation. Dept agrees with you time factor of greatest importance present situation and hopes therefore you can proceed immediately with presentation plan to both parties and Aus and BelDel soonest. Dept believes strongly plan should be discussed simultaneously with both parties (Usgoc 1334 and 1345). Accordingly Dept suggests member USDel discuss plan with Rep in Jogja same time member USDel discusses plan with Neth in Batavia. This of great importance in view possibility manner presentation may be aired in SC.
Sep 9 pm Dept will request Neth Emb Wash accordance your suggestions (a) Neth withhold presentation Neth plan, and (b) Neth give full support USDel proposal as modified by Dept comments set forth below. Substance your plan as so modified will be communicated to Neth Emb. Any embarrassment caused by this acceleration can be rectified here after receiving your comments. Dept will inform you results that conversation.
[Page 326]You should assume NethDel Batavia will capitalize fully on its knowledge existence and contents plan immediately it is informed by Neth Emb Wash.
Dept offers following suggestions your most serious consideration but leaves to your discretion final disposition of all except change of Article 20 para 1 which Dept believes you should incorporate.
In accordance this program you should proceed and discuss plan with both parties and GOC forthwith.
Delete first Whereas clause as unnecessary in light of preceding reference Renville Agreement and past difficulty caused by overemphasis this concept.
Second Whereas clause. Dept notes inconsistency between this clause and Art 36. Accordingly, suggest rephrasing as follows: “Whereas, The transfer of sovereignty of Indonesia to the USI is desired by both parties, and Whereas To this end, the following steps should be taken:”
Art 3, para 5. Delete words “or regulations” throughout that para.
Art 4, para 3. To avoid ambiguity revise para as follows: “On its entry into the Provisional Federal Government, the Republic shall appoint to the Federal Council a number of representatives which shall be equal to ½ of the total membership of the Federal Council exclusive of the Republic’s membership; that is to say, 33⅓ per cent of the total final membership. The Government of each other member state and the administrative board of each participating territory shall name one representative to the Federal Council.”
Art 9, para 3. To avoid ambiguity revise last 4 words of first sentence to read: “or fraction over 50 per cent thereof”.
Art 15, Part (B). Insert words “in the Federal Representative Assembly” after the words “for ratification to the representatives”.
Art 16, para 2. Delete words “under its control”. Purpose to make it consistent with Art 12, para 2.
Art 20, para 1. Delete para and substitute following: “The Federal Representative Assembly shall elect a president who shall name a prime minister”. Dept does not believe that your draft para 1 would be acceptable to Republic or Australia nor would it contribute to viable or stable government during interim period. Dept does not believe therefore that it should be sponsored by US Govt.
Art 21, para 2. Revise last clause to read: “the actual conduct of the several parts of the administration to appropriate parts of the Provisional Federal Government under the president and the prime minister”.
Art 22, para 1. Dept is worried over grant of power to high commissioner to declare emergency. If this is acceptable to Republic we [Page 327] have, of course, no objection but suggest that it may be desirable to provide that a state of emergency may be declared by the high commissioner only after agreement with the president or prime minister, or after consultation with GOC. You may wish to change draft along these lines prior to presentation of plan to both parties.
Art 32. Delete all words following after words “Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs”.
Annex 2. In preambulatory clause substitute word “provisions” for “principles”.
Annex 3, para 14. Is addition of a date desirable in this para?
Last unnumbered para Gocus 366. Dept believes inclusion of language removing Indonesian question from SC seized list is inconsistent with Art 35 of draft agreement and might raise question of authority of SC to maintain GOC on spot for purposes contemplated in Art 35.