501.BC Indonesia/9–1348: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Livengood) to the Secretary of State 1
us urgent
777. Gocus 373. In Batavia afternoon September 11 Cochran received Prime Minister of Eastern Indonesia2 at latter’s request. Prime Minister recalled meeting Cochran in Hague and stated he would be returning Hague shortly with other Bandung representatives to give their views on Netherlands delegation draft act for interim [Page 336] period. He said his group not at all pleased with Netherlands draft and that they would present Hague their minimum demands. He sought any word we could give him following our recent stay in Republican territory as to reaction of Republican officials to draft act. He was member of Bandung group that presented their resolutions to Republican authorities for latter’s information. He said no comments received from Republic. He understood that Netherlands authorities had not communicated with Republicans in regard to draft act, but presumed Republicans were familiar with provisions thereof. Cochran recalled to Prime Minister that Soekarno’s third anniversary speech set forth the 4 conditions on which Republic would enter provisional government. Prime Minister said these points also repeated in Hatta’s address to working council. Cochran had no further comments.
Prime Minister indicated sympathy on his part with Republic and hope that Republic would be drawn into plans for federation as early and as helpfully as possible. He said Republic is manifestation of hopes and aspirations of so many Indonesians that it must figure in any federation.
Saturday evening Cochran met accidentally and talked briefly with Dupont, adviser of Netherlands delegation Batavia, who had participated in one meeting at Hague when Cochran there. Dupont revealed he had been given copy US delegation plan to study. He was unhappy that we had moved to quick presentation without further exchange of views with Netherlands delegation. He thought provisional government should last 5 years and stressed difficulty of elections prior re-establishment law and order. Without arguing substance of draft, Cochran stressed recent deterioration Indonesian situation and necessity for prompt decision and inclusion representation Republic in plans for Indonesian federation.
Following lengthy discussion on procedure evening September 10 (Gocus 3713), Cochran and Scott stayed in Batavia until morning September 13 to receive initial Netherlands delegation reaction to substance US delegation’s plan. None was forthcoming until evening September 12, when Riphagen paid 30-minute call on Scott. Although we had told Riphagen and Schuurman on evening September 10 that procedure followed in presenting draft simultaneously to parties was in accordance with Department’s views, Riphagen began by again referring to dismay with which Netherlands delegation regarded procedural aspects of presentation of plan. He was told that any acceleration apparent on our part should be weighed against deceleration in Netherlands schedule contemplated at time of Blom’s visit in Department last July and against march of events in Republic.
[Page 337]Turning to substance of US delegation’s draft, Riphagen characterized it as “90 percent Dubois plan” and added that 5 percent of remainder was better and 5 percent was worse than its predecessor. Points he included under “worst 5 percent” were institution of office of president and holding of elections “prior to restoration of law and order”. Asked whether restoration of law and order presupposed modification of truce agreement prior to elections to permit access Dutch forces to territories now under Republican control, Riphagen replied that “that was one way to put it”, but that this was not to be interpreted to mean large-scale police action on part Netherlands forces.
Single point Riphagen included under “best 5 percent” was draft’s “endeavor to adhere to federal principle through incorporation of federal council”.
In response to query as to whether US delegation’s draft could be changed prior to presentation as working paper to GOC, Riphagen was told that US delegation would be glad to incorporate any changes agreed to by both parties before presenting draft as working paper, but that all this meant was that negotiations would take place at oral note rather than working paper stage.
Riphagen said that views he had expressed were entirely personal. There is no doubt, however, that they reflect initial reaction of Netherlands delegation and of Neher. Riphagen reported that Neher had commented on plan as being “very disappointing”.
Personal relationships with individual members Netherlands delegation appear to be pleasant as ever but iciness in general atmosphere now becoming increasingly noticeable.
If Netherlands delegation’s views are any indication, we believe Department will encounter severe opposition in persuading Hague to accept US delegation draft as basis negotiations. For this reason, US delegation again urges Department to do all it properly can this connection before Netherlands delegation opinion crystallizes into more rigid opposition. Signed Cochran.