856d.00/10–848: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Netherlands (Baruch) to the Secretary of State 1
us urgent
674. Foreign Minister, in further interview last night, made strong statement for which I would urge Department’s most careful consideration. He stated emphatically that neither he nor his Cabinet associates could understand our government’s taking the position that elections held under present conditions in Indonesia would be meaningful and all important to Cochran plan. He had discussed this matter with Spaak, Bevin, Schuman2 and Scandinavian Foreign Ministers and they agreed with him that election held amidst anarchy, murder and terror (Embtel 670, October 7) would be valueless. He declared [Page 394] this was crux of whole difference between their plan and Cochran’s and pointed out that Dutch press that very day carried report from Batavia (Embtel 673, October 83) that spokesmen for Republic had stated Republic would drop demand for elections prior establishment interim government. Stikker added, if US backed Republic and insisted that only Cochran plan was possible, that Dutch case was being; prejudged; he could not believe it was impossible convince Department of reasonableness of his government’s position.
He further stated that if US accepted Dutch position on elections he was sure whole question would be settled within 3 weeks to entire satisfaction every one except Communists. More was at stake than Communism in Asia (important though that is); the decision would be reflected in Holland and in Europe in weakened defense against Communism, if such mistaken policy should be adopted Indonesia this critical moment.