501.BC Indonesia/10–148: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Batavia
niact
466. Usgoc 156. Dept according most urgent attention items 1 thru 8 Gocus 399, Sept 29,1 with particular reference to medical supplies [Page 382] as available to be offered Hatta gratis, textiles and any other items to be purchased by him as he has requested. For your info Dept now energetically examining several alternative means supplying textiles and other items to Hatta. Details will be given you soonest. Dept believes meanwhile it may be useful for you to be in position to tell Hatta that you do not know details of Dept’s plans. If you feel that situation calls for it you are authorized to inform Hatta that US is giving urgent consideration to his requests and its initial views have been communicated to you as being hopeful in matter of availability of textiles to him in near future.
Dept concerned that Hatta not get impression that US backing so complete that he can (a) get tough in negotiating, or (b) hope to bleed the US. Hatta should understand, therefore, that US is helping him fight Communism and does not intend that his position in negotiations is changed as a consequence US support in this manner. Please comment.
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